A  BAPTIST  MANUAL 


:^ 


0< 


*      NOV  6  1911      * 


/i 


fS.^ 


i^S/CAL  5l# 


BX    6340     .S6 

Scares,  Theodore  Gerald,  b 

1869. 
A  Baptist  manual 


A  BAPTIST  MANUAL 


A  BAPTIST  MANUAL 


THE  POLITY  OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCHES  AND 
OF  THE  DENOMINATIONAL  ORGANIZATIONS 


^  ^'  ^^m 


J- ^^2.. 


*      NOV   6   1911 

Bv         /  \^''-^/  ^~^ '" "'^"  ^ .  v^ 

THEODORE  GERALD  50ARES    "^"'^^^  ^*'"- 

Ph.  D.,  D.  D. 


Professor  of  Practical  Theology  In  the 
University  of  Chicago 


PHILADELPHIA 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY 

BOSTON  CHICAGO  ST.  LOUIS 

TORONTO.  CAN. 


Copyright  1911  by 
A.  J.  ROWLAND,  Secretary 


Published   April,   1911 


PREFACE 

We  are  in  a  most  interesting  stage  in  the  develop- 
ment of  our  denominational  polity.  We  are  dis- 
covering to  the  joy  of  all  that  our  pure  democracy 
is  compatible  with  organized  effectiveness  in  every 
sphere  where  we  need  advanced  movement.  Most 
important  modifications  are  taking  place,  and  a  new 
denominational  consciousness  is  evident. 

It  is  perhaps  too  early  to  write  the  history  of  this 
movement.  But  it  is  not  too  early  to  indicate 
the  point  to  which  we  have  come.  All  Baptist 
manuals  are  of  necessity  out  of  date.  We  have 
felt  for  some  time  in  our  Department  of  Practical 
Theology  at  the  University  of  Chicago  the  need  of 
a  book  in  which  the  conditions  as  they  now  exist 
among  us  would  be  clearly  set  forth.  Perhaps  the 
special  pressure  occasioned  by  divinity  lectures  may 
be  the  excuse  for  my  undertaking  to  perform  this 
task. 

In  conference  with  my  friend,  Dr.  William  E. 
Barton,  an  acknowledged  authority  on  ecclesiastical 
usage  in  the  Congregational  body,  I  found  that  he 


vi  Preface 

had  in  hand  the  preparation  of  a  manual  for  his 
own  denomination.  The  CongregationaHsts  have 
been  passing  through  a  development  very  similar  to 
our  own,  so  that  I  was  glad  to  avail  myself  of 
Doctor  Barton's  generous  offer  to  allow  me  to  con- 
sult his  work  while  in  course  of  preparation. 

Pres.  H.  P.  Judson,  of  the  University  of  Chicago; 
Dr.  B.  A.  Greene,  my  colleague  in  practical  the- 
ology ;  and  Mr.  J.  S.  Dickerson,  editor  of  "  The 
Standard,"  all  of  whom  have  had  no  small  part  in 
recent  denominational  developments,  have  kindly 
read  the  manuscript  and  favored  me  with  valuable 
suggestions. 

Theodore  Gerald  Scares. 

Thb  University  of  Chicago,  January  i,  1911. 


CONTENTS 

Part  I 
Baptist  Theory  and  Practice 

PAGE 

Chapter  I.    The  Fundamental  Principles  of 
Baptist  Polity   3 

Chapter  IL     The  Organization  of  Baptist 
Churches   11 

Preparatory  Steps  of  Organization 11 

Recognition  of  a  Church 14 

The  Disbanding  of  a  Church 16 

Uniting  Two  Churches 17 

Dividing  a  Church 18 

The  Incorporation  of  a  Church 19 

Corporate  Seal   21 

Chapter  III.     The  Constitution  of  a  Bap- 
tist Church    22 

The  Presiding  Officer 22 

Records 23 

The  Financial  Management  of  the  Church.  24 

The  Unity  of  the  Church  Organization 25 

Business  Meetings 25 

Annual  Church  Meetings 26 

The  Form  of  Constitution 2^ 

vii 


viii  Contents 


PAGE 


Chapter  IV.    The  Conduct  of  Church  Meet- 
ings    28 

Rules  of   Order 28 

Opening  a  Meeting 28 

The  Introduction  of  Business 29 

The  Disposition  of  a  Question 29 

The  Point  of  Order 31 

Making  a  Motion 31 

Voting 32 

Adjournment   32 

Chapter  V.    The  Church  and  Society 33 

Reason  for  the  Society 33 

Powers  and  Limitations 33 

Chapter  VI.    Church  Membership 36 

Conditions  of  Membership 36 

The  Rights  of  Members 38 

The  Majority  Rule 40 

The  Rights  of  the  Minority 40 

Duties  of  Members  of  the  Church 41 

Dismission    41 

What  is  "  Good  and  Regular  Standing  "  ? . .  43 

When  May  a  Church  Refuse  a  Letter?. . .  43 

Status  of  Dismissed  Members 43 

Dropping  Names  from  Roll 44 

Letters  without  Dismission 45 

Dismission  to  Other  Evangelical  Organiza- 
tions   46 

Discipline  of  Church  INTembers 46 


Contents  ix 


PAGE 


Testimony  at  Church  Trials 48 

The  Exclusion  of  a  Member 49 

The  Right  of  a  Church  to  Discipline  Its 

Members    49 

The  Law  of  Libel 50 

Chapter  VIL     The  Baptist  Minister 53 

The  Status  of  the  Ordained  Minister 54 

The  Termination  of  a  Pastorate 55 

The  Legal  Value  of  Ministerial  Reputation.  57 

Chapter  VIIL    Ecclesiastical  Councils....  59 

The  Right  to  Call  a  Council 59 

The  Method  of  Calling  a  Council 61 

The  Number  of  Invited  Churches 61 

The  Advisory  Committee  on  Councils 61 

The  Quorum  of  a  Council 62 

The  Organization  of  a  Council 62 

The  Moderator  63 

The  Clerk    65 

The  Executive  Session  of  the  Council 65 

The  Dissolving  of  a  Council 66 

The  Authority  of  a  Council 67 

Ex-parte  Councils 68 

May  a  Council  Increase  Its  Membership  ? . .  69 

Individuals  in  a  Council 69 

Evidence    70 

Chapter  IX.    The  Association 72 

The  Churches  in  Association 72 

Incorporation    73 


X  Contents 


PAGE 


The  Organization  of  the  Association 73 

Relations  of  the  Association 74 

Chapter  X.     The  Metropolitan  Executive 
Council  75 

The  Need  of  Metropohtan  Organization..  75 
The  Relation  of  the  Metropolitan  Organiza- 
tion to  the  Association 76 

By-laws  of  the  Baptist  Executive  Council 
of  Chicago 77 

CHiiPTER  XL    The  State  Convention 84 

A  Delegated  Body 84 

Representative  of  the  Denomination 85 

Conservator  of  Denominational  Interests..  86 
Relation  to  the  Northern  Baptist  Conven- 
tion      86 

The  State  Superintendent  of  Missions 87 

The  Pastor-at-large   87 

Chapter  XII.    The  Northern  Baptist  Con- 
vention      89 

The  Organization  of  the  Convention 89 

The  Act  of  Incorporation 91 

By-laws 92 

By-laws  for  Co-operating  Societies 97 

Chapter  XIII.    The  Southern  Baptist  Con- 
vention      99 

Constitution   99 

By-laws 103 


Contents  xi 


PAGE 


Chapter  XIV.    The  General  Convention  of 

THE  Baptists  of  North  America io6 

Constitution   107 

By-laws 109 

Chapter  XV.    The  Baptist  World  Alliance  .111 
Constitution   112 

Chapter  XVI.    The  Church  Universal 115 

The  Relation  of  Baptists  to  Other  Churches.  115 
The  Federal  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ 
in  America 117 


Part  II 

A  Compendium  of  Forms  for  the  Use 
OF  Churches  and  Councils 

Baptist  Statements  of  Doctrine 125 

The  New  Hampshire  Articles  of  Faith. . . .  125 
A  Confession  of  Faith  in  Scriptural  Lan- 
guage   131 

The  Constitution  of  a  Church 133 

Forms  of  Letters  Missive 145 

From  Individuals  Desiring  Help  in  Organi- 
zing a   Church 145 

For  the  Reception  of  a  Church  into  Fellow- 
ship    146 


xii  Contents 


PAGE 


For  the  Ordination  of  a  Minister 147 

For  Advice  in  Special  Cases 148 

For  Advice  in  Case  of  Internal  Dissen- 
sions     149 

For  a  Mutual  Council  in  Case  of  Alleged 

Grievance  150 

For  an  Ex-parte  Council  to  Consider  an 
Alleged  Grievance 151 

Forms  Relating  to  the  Dismission  of 
Church  Members 152 

Application  for  Uniting  in  the  Formation 
of  a  New  Church 152 

Application  for  a  Letter  of  Dismission  from 
One  Church  to  Another 153 

A  Letter  of  Dismission  and  Recommenda- 
tion     153 

A  Certificate  of  Reception 154 

Form  of  Membership  Certificate 154 

Forms  Relating  to  License  and  Ordination.  155 

Certificate  of  License  to  Preach 155 

Certificate  of  Ordination 155 


Parti 


Baptist  Theory  and  Practice 


CHAPTER  I 
The  Fundamental  Principles  of  Baptist  Polity 

THE  most  fundamental  principle  of  Baptist 
polity,  and  that  upon  which  all  else  rests,  is 
that  the  individual  church  is  an  independent 
body.  If  it  so  happened  that  there  were  only  one 
Baptist  church  in  the  world  it  could  be  completely 
a  Baptist  church.  The  Baptists  have  always  believed 
that  this  was  the  essential  constitution  of  the  New 
Testament  churches.  Further,  it  seems  to  be  the 
principle  of  government  most  naturally  suited  to 
a  democratic  people,  and  in  spite  of  the  seemingly 
greater  efficiency  which  more  highly  organized 
bodies  present,  the  history  of  the  Baptists  appears 
abundantly  to  vindicate  the  value  of  the  democratic 
principle. 

And  yet  from  the  very  first  churches  have  not 
existed  in  isolation.  They  have  naturally  felt  a 
relation,  which  was  more  than  that  of  mere  fraternal 
interest,  with  others  of  like  faith  and  order.  The 
Baptist  churches  of  a  locality  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  send  messengers  to  an  Association.  This 
body  was  never  conceived  of  as  a  delegated  body 
to  have  authority  over  the  churches.  It  was  simply, 
as  the  name  implied,  an  association  of  individuals 

3 


4  A  Baptist  Manual 

for  the  purpose  of  considering  matters  of  mutual 
interest  to  all  the  churches. 

Yet  in  a  way,  without  in  the  least  compromising 
independence,  the  Association  inevitably  modified  it. 
A  church  might  be  a  regular  Baptist  church  with- 
out affiliation  with  any  Association,  but  its  recog- 
nition among  the  sisterhood  of  churches  depended 
upon  that  affiliation.  The  messengers  who  were 
sent  by  the  churches  to  the  Association  might  be 
regarded  as  individuals  responsible  only  to  them- 
selves, and  yet  inevitably  they  were  delegates.  And 
the  Association  in  practice  became  a  gathering  of 
the  churches  for  the  consideration  of  mutual  in- 
terests, for  undertaking  general  missionary  opera- 
tions within  the  territory  of  the  Association,  and 
for  expressing  to  some  extent  at  least  the  common 
religious  sense  of  the  churches. 

A  very  much  more  significant  modification  of 
the  principle  of  independence,  which,  however, 
still  does  not  in  anywise  impair  it,  is  caused  by 
the  formation  of  the  larger  missionary  organiza- 
tions. The  State  Conventions  in  the  beginning  were 
not  conceived  of  as  delegated  bodies.  They  too 
were  organizations  composed  of  individuals  respon- 
sible only  to  themselves.  The  action  of  a  State  Con- 
vention could  have  no  binding  power  whatever  upon 
a  church.  The  State  Convention  was  organized  pri- 
marily for  carrying  on  missionary  work  in  the  needy 
sections  of  the  State.  But  that  very  condition  in- 
volved the  formation  of  missionary  churches,  which 


The  Principles  of  Baptist  Polity  5 

would  not  be  self-supporting.  It  is  a  principle 
that  has  been  of  universal  application,  and  from 
which  escape  is  impossible,  that  the  body  that  pays 
the  bills  largely  controls  the  policy.  An  absolutely 
independent  church  supported  by  an  outside  organ- 
ization would  be  a  contradiction  in  idea.  The 
State  Conventions  have  succeeded  admirably  in  a 
simple  modification  of  the  principle  of  independ- 
ence. The  humblest  little  church  supported  by  State 
finances  has  always  been  accorded  the  privilege 
of  calling  its  own  pastor.  That  pastor,  however, 
is  a  missionary  of  the  State  Convention.  He  is  ap- 
pointed by  the  State  Board.  As  pastor,  he  is  re- 
sponsible only  to  his  own  church.  As  a  missionary, 
he  is  responsible  to  the  Board  of  the  Convention. 

A  similar  plan  of  organization  has  been  worked 
out  in  City  Mission  Societies.  The  pastors  of  the 
churches  that  are  helped  by  a  society  are  mission- 
aries appointed  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  and 
acting  under  the  Superintendent  of  City  Missions. 
The  same  thing  is  true  of  the  missionaries  of  the 
Home  Mission  Society.  In  this  way  in  our  entire 
system  of  missionary  work  in  America  we  have  been 
able  to  leave  the  independence  of  the  local  church 
untouched  in  all  matters  of  discipline,  plans  of  work, 
statements  of  creed,  conditions  of  membership,  etc. ; 
but  our  missionary  organizations  have  held  the 
right  to  concur  in  the  call  of  a  pastor,  and  to  deter- 
mine whether  he  shall  continue  as  their  appointed 
missionary.     It  is  clear  that  this  involves  a  certain 

6 


6  A  Baptist  Manual 

reasonable   modification   of   absolute   independence. 

In  foreign  missions  the  modification  is  still  more 
significant.  It  is  a  most  interesting  fact  that  among 
very  primitive  people  the  establishment  of  local  in- 
dependent churches  has  been  of  great  educational 
value.  Democracy  has  been  justified  of  her  chil- 
dren. People  have  developed  under  the  responsi- 
bility placed  upon  them  for  the  management  of 
their  own  affairs.  And  yet,  of  course,  there  has 
been  a  very  definite  oversight  on  the  part  of  the  mis- 
sionaries. They  have  indeed  exerted  a  kind  of 
apostolic  guardianship  of  the  infant  churches.  The 
relation  of  the  missionary  to  a  number  of  unified 
churches,  of  none  of  which  he  was  a  member,  has 
been  in  many  respects  quite  similar  to  that  which 
Paul  maintained  toward  the  churches  he  estab- 
lished. That  mixture  of  paternal  authority  and 
fraternal  counsel,  which  Paul's  wisdom  and  love 
enabled  him  so  beautifully  to  develop,  has  been 
reproduced  on  scores  of  mission  fields  in  foreign 
lands. 

These  various  modifications,  if  such  they  may  be 
called,  of  absolute  independence  have  been  at  work 
since  the  beginning  of  our  history.  There  have 
always  been  those  who  thought  that  independence 
was  only  compatible  with  isolation.  The  great 
movement  of  the  denomination  has  been  in  the 
direction  of  realizing  independence  in  association. 
The  modifications  of  the  extreme  principle  of  in- 
dependence have  come  almost  entirely  in  connec- 


The  Principles  of  Baptist  Polity  y 

tion  with  missionary  work.  It  is  not  that  there 
has  been  a  disposition  to  exercise  control  over  the 
churches,  but  there  has  been  the  necessity  of  care 
and  guardianship  over  churches  which  had  not 
yet  come  to  maturity. 

Through  these  missionary  operations  there  has 
come  to  be  a  denominational  consciousness.  This 
denominational  consciousness  is  so  evident  that  it 
is  doubtful  whether  any  body  of  Christians  has  a 
clearer  right  to  be  considered  a  denomination  than 
the  Baptists.  The  denominational  spirit  has  ex- 
pressed itself  finally  in  great  national  Conventions. 
There  are  two  ^  of  these  in  the  United  States  essen- 
tially national  in  spirit,  but  necessarily  sectional  in 
membership.  They  are  delegated  bodies.  The  dele- 
gates are  appointed  primarily  for  the  purpose  of 
representing  the  churches  in  the  missionar^^  opera- 
tions that  are  common,  but  these  delegated  bodies 
are  so  manifestly  representative  of  the  churches 
that  they  have  come,  in  a  certain  sense,  to  speak  for 
the  denomination  as  a  whole. 

It  may  be  said,  then,  that  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciple of  the  independence  of  the  local  church  has 
been  found  in  operation  to  be  thoroughly  compatible 
with  delegated  organizations  of  a  district,  State,  and 
national  character.  These  delegated  bodies  have 
never  authority  over  any  church.  They  have  the 
authority   of   determining   those    operations    which 

1  Not  to  speak  of  the  great  Negro  Convention,  which  might  well  claim 
special  consideration. 


8  A  Baptist  Manual 

are  common  to  all  the  churches,  and  they  have 
the  authority  which  belongs  to  their  representative 
character  of  speaking,  in  general,  the  sense  of  the 
denomination  as  a  v^hole. 

Baptists  have  always  insisted  upon  an  independ- 
ence that  went  very  much  farther  than  that  of  the 
local  church.  They  have  stood  strongly  for  the  in- 
dependence of  the  individual.  They  have  insisted 
that  the  right  of  the  individual  conscience  must 
stand  against  any  body.  Baptists  have  sometimes 
formulated  their  views  in  doctrinal  statements  for 
the  purpose  of  expressing  clearly  their  common 
creed.  Those  statements  have  never  been  regarded 
as  authoritative.  No  statement,  however  ancient 
or  honored,  could  ever  be  made  the  ground  for  the 
acceptance  or  rejection  of  a  Baptist  church  by  an 
Association  or  a  Convention.  Many  a  Baptist 
church  has  no  statement  of  creed  of  any  kind  as  its 
basis  of  organization.  The  common  consent  that 
the  members  of  the  church  accepted  in  general  the 
views  commonly  believed  to  be  held  by  the  denom- 
ination has  been  sufficient  to  bind  them  together. 
It  has  been  our  glory  that  no  legalistic  interpreta- 
tion of  creedal  statute  was  ever  necessary  to  deter- 
mine the  status  of  a  member  of  a  Baptist  church. 
We  have  commonly  believed  that  the  unity  that  has 
so  markedly  characterized  our  denomination  has 
been  to  no  small  extent  a  result  of  this  general 
agreement,  and  this  freedom  from  creedal  restraint. 
It  is  probably  true  to-day  that  no  body  of  Chris- 


The  Principles  of  Baptist  Polity  9 

tiaiis  is  characterized  by  such  substantial  agreement 
of  religious  views  as  the  Baptist  body.  And  yet  it 
has  been  achieved  without  heresy  trials,  without 
authoritative  creedal  formularies,  without  any  or- 
ganized safeguards.  And  the  development  of  our 
denominational  faith  and  our  denominatioal  unity 
will  come  through  this  same  democratic  principle  of 
soul  liberty. 

Careful  observers  of  the  movement  of  events 
in  the  denomination  can  see  a  trend  in  our  polity 
toward  closer  denominational  affiliation  and  more 
effective  organization.  Our  fundamental  principles 
of  liberty  are  so  secure  that  we  are  not  so  fearful 
of  organization  as  in  earlier  days.  Other  denomina- 
tions have  so  largely  come  to  our  democratic  posi- 
tion that  it  is  perfectly  clear  that  the  trend  in 
the  whole  church  of  Christ  is  toward  democracy. 
There  is  not  the  same  reason,  therefore,  for  us  to 
be  afraid  of  adopting  some  of  the  useful  methods 
of  administration  which  our  fathers  rightly  regarded 
as  dangerous.  In  our  city  mission  societies,  in  our 
home  mission  policy,  and  in  our  representative  con- 
ventions we  are  moving  toward  more  definite  de- 
nominational unity. 

Some  forms  and  practices  which  were  not  used  in 
our  Baptist  churches  in  the  past  are  being  adopted 
rather  widely  to-day.  This  does  not  in  any  sense 
mean  a  departure  from  the  spirit  that  has  made 
our  history  glorious.  It  means  rather  that  the  great 
victory   for   spiritual   religion  has  been   so   largely 


10  A  Baptist  Manual 

won  that  some  matters  that  were  vital  in  the  past 
are  of  less  importance  now.  We  are,  therefore,  en- 
riching our  church  life  and  worship  by  the  addition 
of  some  of  those  forms  and  practices  which  belong 
to  the  church  universal. 

Our  fathers  protested  against  the  prayer  book, 
not  because  they  believed  in  the  inherent  sinfulness 
of  written  or  printed  prayers,  though  sometimes  the 
more  extreme  of  them  were  forced  even  to  this  view, 
but  because  they  denied  the  right  of  any  ecclesias- 
tical body  to  determine  for  them  when  and  in  what 
manner  they  should  pray.  They  protested  against 
vestments,  not  because  they  abhorred  appropriate 
apparel  in  worship,  but  because  they  believed  the 
heart  of  the  worshiper  to  be  the  essential  element 
and  the  garment  to  be  so  entirely  secondary  as 
to  become  a  negligible  consideration.  They  pro- 
tested against  the  observance  of  times  and  seasons, 
not  because  they  believed  these  things  wrong  in 
themselves,  but  because  they  were  employed  to 
fetter  the  free  spirit  of  faith.  We  are  likely  to  dis- 
cover new  beauties  in  the  dignity  of  formal  service 
and  appropriate  attire,  and  to  find  considerable  value 
in  the  observance  of  those  festivals  and  times  of 
religious  emphasis  which  belong  to  the  church.  All 
things  are  ours — Paul,  Apollos,  Cephas,  the  prayer 
book,  Easter,  Lent,  and  all  else — for  use  in  the  free 
service  of  God,  but  not  as  an  instrument  of  eccle- 
siastical bondage. 


CHAPTER  II 
The  Organization  of  Baptist  Churches 

THE  right  of  organization  lies  in  any  company 
of  Christians  who  desire  to  form  themselves 
into  a  self-governing  church.  It  is  usual  that 
they  live  sufficiently  near  to  each  other  to  meet 
statedly  for  worship  and  to  unite  in  Christian  ac- 
tivities. The  church  thus  formed  ought  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  neighboring  churches  represented  in 
council.  This  approval  would  give  to  it  that  de- 
nominational recognition  which  would  entitle  it  to 
full  standing  as  a  Baptist  church.  The  right  of 
organization  is  inherent  in  the  local  body  of  be- 
lievers. The  right  of  recognition  belongs  to  the 
sisterhood  of  churches,  with  which  the  local  church 
expects  fellowship. 

Preparatory  steps  of  organisation.  It  is  impor- 
tant that  in  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  church 
careful  attention  should  be  given  to  local  conditions 
which  seem  to  call  for  the  organization,  and  also  that 
from  the  beginning  the  advice  and  fellowship  of 
neighboring  churches  should  be  sought. 

Where  the  Association  has  an  Advisory  Commit- 
tee, it  is  well  that  its  counsel  be  taken  from  the  out- 
set, otherwise  advice  should  be  sought  from  a  neigh- 

II 


12  A  Baptist  Manual 

boring   pastor   of   standing   and   large   experience. 

The  neighborhood  should  first  be  canvassed,  and 
a  list  of  prospective  members  should  be  obtained. 
It  is  advisable  that  these  should  have  signed  in 
advance  a  simple  preliminary  covenant  which  v^ill 
afford  the  basis  of  a  temporary  organization.  The 
following  has  been  used  successfully  in  cases  of 
this  kind : 

"  For  the  glory  of  God,  for  the  service  of  our  fel- 
low-men, and  for  mutual  assistance  in  our  Chris- 
tian life,  the  undersigned  agree  to  become  charter 
members  of  a  Baptist  church." 

The  extreme  brevity  and  freedom  from  tech- 
nicality of  such  a  statement  is  an  advantage. 

A  preliminary  meeting  may  be  held  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  present  a  constitution,  covenant, 
and,  if  desired,  articles  of  faith.  Where  such  a 
preliminary  meeting  is  inexpedient,  these  documents 
may  be  prepared  in  advance  by  the  leaders  of  the 
movement  or  by  a  neighboring  pastor. 

A  formal  call  should  be  issued  for  the  organiza- 
tion, and  should  become  a  part  of  the  minutes  of  the 
meeting.  It  may  be  published  in  a  local  paper  or 
sent  individually  to  prospective  members. 

On  the  appointed  date  the  meeting  may  be  called 
to  order  by  a  neighboring  pastor,  or  by  some  person 
appointed  for  the  purpose.  A  temporary  clerk 
should  be  elected,  and  the  call  for  the  meeting  read. 
The  names  of  the  persons  who  have  signified  their 
intention  of  uniting  with  the  church  should  be  read, 


The  Organization  of  Baptist  Churches     13 

and  if  a  sufficient  number  are  found  to  be  present, 
the  business  of  the  meeting  may  proceed.  A  per- 
manent moderator  and  clerk  should  now  be  chosen, 
and  prayer  offered  by  the  presiding  officer,  or  some 
person  upon  whom  he  may  call. 

The  persons  who  are  to  join  by  letter  from  other 
churches  should  produce  their  credentials,  and  these 
papers  should  be  submitted  to  a  committee.  If  there 
is  objection  to  any  name  proposed,  the  prospective 
members  have  a  right  by  vote  to  refuse  to  asso- 
ciate that  person  with  themselves  as  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  church;  but  if  no  objection  is  raised,  the 
names  need  not  be  voted  upon  separately.  If  the 
committee  finds  the  letters  to  be  in  due  form,  it 
may  report  favorably  upon  the  prospective  member- 
ship as  a  whole. 

A  motion  is  then  in  order,  and  may  be  in  substance 
as  follows :  "  Voted  that  we  now  proceed  to  take 
the  necessary  steps  toward  the  organization  of  a 
church  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  be  known  as 
the Baptist  Church." 

This  motion  being  open  for  discussion,  it  should 
be  made  clear  that  such  a  church  is  needed ;  that  the 
field  is  not  already  covered  by  neighboring  churches ; 
that  it  has  good  prospect  of  reaching  self-support 
within  a  reasonable  period,  and  that  those  who  are 
to  constitute  the  church  represent  the  best  interests 
of  the  community  in  the  undertaking.  These  mat- 
ers being  established,  the  motion  may  be  adopted. 

The  covenant,  statement  of  doctrine,  and  consti- 


14  A  Baptist  Manual 

tution  and  by-laws  may  now  be  presented  and 
adopted. 

The  election  of  officers  will  then  be  in  order.  If 
deacons  and  trustees  are  to  be  so  chosen  that  terms 
of  office  do  not  all  expire  at  once,  one  officer  should 
be  elected  for  one  year,  another  for  two,  and  an- 
other for  three,  as  the  constitution  may  direct. 

It  may  be  wise  to  adjourn  the  meeting  at  this  point 
and  to  complete  it  at  a  Sunday  covenant  service, 
holding  the  charter  membership  open  until  that  date. 
In  that  case  the  persons  to  be  received  into  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  church  who  were  not  present  at  the 
business  meeting  should  present  themselves  and  be 
accepted  by  vote  as  charter  members  of  the  church, 
and  the  whole  body  then  going  forward  as  their 
names  are  read  may  receive  the  hand  of  fellowship. 
This  service  may  appropriately  be  followed  by  a 
communion  service. 

This  method  of  effecting  an  organization  in  two 
meetings,  one  called  especially  for  the  transaction 
of  business,  and  the  second  called  upon  a  Sunday  for 
the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  covenant,  possesses 
some  marked  practical  advantages.  Where  it  is  em- 
ployed there  should  be  a  formal  vote  at  the  second 
service  ratifying  the  proceedings  of  the  previous 
meeting,  and  the  covenant  service  should  be  con- 
sidered an  adjourned  session  of  the  meeting  for 
organization. 

Recognition  of  a  church.  A  Baptist  church  or- 
ganized as  herein  directed  will  properly  seek  recog- 


The  Organization  of  Baptist  Churches     15 

iiition  through  a  council,  and  later  seek  admittance 
to  the  Association.  If  a  council  is  to  be  called,  it 
should  represent  fairly  the  churches  of  the. vicinage, 
and  indeed  most  properly  all  of  the  churches  in  the 
Association  of  which  the  new  church  may  expect  to 
become  a  member.  A  letter  missive  should  be  sent 
out  in  form  and  in  substance  like  that  contained 
in  Part  II  of  this  book. 

The  council,  convening  on  the  day  appointed  and 
being  duly  organized,  should  first  have  presented  to 
it  all  the  records  of  the  church  from  the  beginning, 
together  with  the  constitution,  creed,  and  covenant. 
Any  further  statement  concerning  the  admission  of 
such  a  church  may  be  made,  and  the  council  may 
go  into  executive  session  to  consider  the  wisdom  of 
the  undertaking.  If  it  appear  to  the  council  that 
the  organization  is  advisable,  it  should  vote  first 
to  approve  the  organization,  articles  of  faith,  and 
covenant  of  the  church ;  and,  secondly,  to  recom- 
mend the  church  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Associa- 
tion. 

Two  copies  of  the  minutes  of  the  council  should 
be  prepared,  signed  by  the  moderator  and  clerk. 
One  of  these  should  be  furnished  to  the  clerk  of 
the  Association  and  the  other  to  the  clerk  of  the 
church.  The  latter  should  be  entered  in  the  record 
book  of  the  church  and  permanently  preserved. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Association  the  church 
should  be  represented  by  its  pastor  and  two  dele- 
gates, and  formal  application  should  be  made  for 


i6  A  Baptist  Manual 

admission.     Resolutions  to  this  effect  may  be  sub- 
stantially in  the  following  words : 

Voted  that  the   Baptist  Church  in 

organized  19 , 

and  recognized  by  the  council  of  the  vicinage  on 

hereby  applies  for  admission  to  the   

Association,  as   a   Baptist   church   in    fellowship 

and  regular  standing. 

The  disbanding  of  a  church.  Sometimes  through 
changes  in  the  population  of  a  community  it  be- 
comes advisable  to  disband  a  church,  or  to  combine 
it  with  another  church.  In  such  a  case  competent 
advice  should  be  sought  to  secure  all  legal  rights 
in  the  premises.  If  money  has  been  invested  in  the 
church  by  the  Home  Mission  Society,  the  State  Con- 
vention, or  the  City  Mission  Society,  care  should  be 
taken  to  secure  all  the  legal  and  moral  equities  in- 
volved. Public  notice  should  be  given  that  all  mem- 
bers may  have  knowledge  of  the  proposed  action. 
In  any  case  of  doubt  a  council  should  be  called, 
or  the  advice  of  the  Association  should  be  sought. 
If  any  considerable  number  of  the  members  still 
believe  the  church  to  be  needed,  and  are  willing  to 
continue  its  responsibilities,  respectful  heed  should 
be  given  to  their  desires  and  promises,  without,  how- 
ever, jeopardizing  important  interests  for  what  may 
be  a  too  confident  hope.  If  it  should  finally  appear 
that  the  church  is  no  longer  needed  the  following 
steps  may  be  taken :  First,  it  may  be  voted  that 
this  church  proceed  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to 


The  Organization  of  Baptist  Churches     ly 

dispose  of  its  property  and  to  disband.  Secondly, 
the  trustees  should  be  directed  to  dispose  of  the 
property  either  by  deed  to  the  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety, or  in  such  other  way  as  to  provide  for  the 
proper  securing  of  the  interests  of  the  denomination. 
A  bill  of  sale  of  the  personal  property  should  also 
be  authorized.  In  some  cases  the  members  of  a 
church  have  divided  the  property  among  themselves. 
This  may  be  technically  legal,  but  it  is  practical 
theft.  Even  if  no  society  has  contributed  to  the 
church,  the  money  has  been  given  by  individuals 
for  religious  use,  and  is  a  sacred  trust  in  the  hands 
of  the  membership.  It  should  always  be  turned 
over  to  some  representative  denominational  body. 
Thirdly,  it  should  be  voted  that  the  clerk  have  au- 
thority to  grant  letters  to  all  members  now  on  the 
rolls  of  the  church  to  any  church  of  like  faith  and 
order.  Fourthly,  it  should  be  voted  that  the  records, 
when  completed,  be  deposited  with  the  clerk  of 
the  Association.  Finally,  all  necessary  business  be- 
ing completed,  it  should  be  voted  that  the  church  do 
now  disband. 

Uniting  tzvo  churches.  Two  churches,  both  be- 
ing incorporated  and  owning  their  own  property, 
may  unite  by  majority  vote  of  both  churches,  and 
take  the  name  and  organization  of  either,  or  agree 
upon  a  new  name.  The  choice  of  the  new  name 
does  not  necessitate  the  overthrow  of  the  older  or- 
ganizations, and  the  united  church  under  a  new 
name  may  so  conduct  its  business  as  merely  to  effect 


i8  A  Baptist  Manual 

a  reorganization  of  both  churches  under  the  one  new 
name.  Regardless  of  the  name  chosen,  the  original 
date  of  the  older  organization  should  be  retained  as 
the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  united  church. 
To  bring  this  to  pass  without  sacrifice  of  any  vested 
interest  a  good  Christian  lawyer  should  be  con- 
sulted; and  the  matter  should  be  considered  care- 
fully by  some  one  with  experience  in  such  affairs. 

Members  voting  against  the  merger  are  still  mem- 
bers of  the  united  church  in  good  standing,  but 
should  be  given  letters  if  they  insist  upon  it. 

Dividing  a  church.  A  church  may  divide  by  vote. 
But  this  action  is  quite  different  from  that  of  uni- 
ting two  churches,  in  that  the  church  cannot  by 
majority  vote  dismiss  a  group  of  members  against 
their  individual  choice,  nor  set  them  apart  as  those 
to  form  the  new  church.  By  unanimous  consent 
the  parish  might  be  divided  geographically,  and,  one 
organization  taking  a  new  name,  each  could  date 
its  records  from  the  beginning  of  the  united  church. 
But  usually  a  new  church  is  formed,  composed  of 
such  members  as  request  letters  of  dismission  for 
the  purpose  of  joining  It.  The  question  of  equi- 
table division  of  the  property  is  sometimes  a  very 
difficult  one.  It  has  been  too  easily  assumed  that  the 
members  who  leave  to  form  the  new  church  must, 
of  necessity,  go  empty-handed.  It  might  well  be 
that  justice  and  Christian  consideration  would  re- 
quire that  a  goodly  sum  be  given  to  the  departing 
members,  even   if  a  mortgage  would   have  to  be 


The  Organisation  of  Baptist  Churches     19 

put  on  the  old  property  in  order  to  start  the  new 
work.  At  least  the  matter  should  be  carefully 
considered,  and  in  some  cases  should  be  submitted 
to  the  arbitration  of  a  council. 

The  incorporation  of  a  church.  The  incorporation 
of  a  church  is  a  very  simple  matter.  The  laws  of 
the  several  States  are  framed  to  conform  to  the 
usages  of  the  various  denominations;  so  that  the 
directions  here  given  will,  with  slight  adaptations,  fit 
the  requirements  of  most  States.  In  case  of  any 
doubt  it  would  be  well  to  consult  a  Christian  lawyer, 
who  would  furnish  the  form  as  required  in  the 
statutes  of  the  State  in  which  the  church  is  situated. 

The  following  directions  are  adequate  for  most 
cases : 

Prepare  a  written  notice  to  be  signed  by  the  num- 
ber of  members  required  by  the  rules  of  the  local 
church,  and  preferably  by  its  Board  of  Trustees,  an- 
nouncing that  at  a  regular  midweek  meeting  on  a 
certain  date  the  church  will  be  asked  to  vote  upon 
the  question  of  becoming  incorporated.  Let  this 
notice  be  read  from  the  pulpit  one  or  two  Sundays 
before  the  date  of  meeting,  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  church.  This  call  should  be  incorporated  in  the 
minutes  of  the  meeting. 

A  resolution  substantially  in  the  following  form 
may  then  be  presented: 

Resolved,  that  this  church  apply  for  incorporation  under 
the  statutes  of  this  State;  and  that  Messrs.  A.  B.,  C.  D., 
and   E.    F.,   now   serving   as   trustees,   be   the   trustees   of 


20  A  Baptist  Manual 

this  incorporation ;  and  that  they  and  the  chairman  and 
secretary  of  this  meeting  be  authorized  and  instructed  to 
act  for  the  church  in  the  preparation  and  filing  of  the 
necessary  papers. 

The  papers  to  be  filed,  which  should  be  ready 
in  advance,  require  in  some  States  the  signatures  of 
all  the  incorporators,  who  must  not  be  less  than 
three  in  number.  In  other  States  the  chairman  or 
secretary  of  the  meeting  may  make  oath  to  the 
papers,  and  merely  name  the  trustees.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  form  of  oath  prescribed  in  some  of 
the  States. 

State  of  

County,   ss. 

I,  John  Doe,  do  solemnly  swear,  that  at  a  meeting  of 

the  members   of   the    Church   of 

held  at    on   

Messrs.   A.   B.,   C.   D.,   and   E.   F.   were   elected 

trustees,  according  to  the  rules  and  usages  of  such  church. 
And   said   church   adopted   as   its   corporate   name,   "  The 

Baptist  Church  of   " 

and    as    its    corporate    seal,    the    following   words :    "  The 

Baptist  Church  of  ," 

with  the   following  motto  and  device: , 

the  whole  to  be  enclosed  in  a  scroll,  and  to  be  either 
written,  stamped,  or  printed.  And  at  said  meeting  this 
affiant  acted  as  chairman  (or  secretary). 

(Name)     

Subscribed  and   sworn  to  before  me  this    

day  of   ,  19.... 

,  Notary  Public. 


The  Orgam::ation  of  Baptist  Churches     21 

This  affidavit,  with  a  copy  of  the  constitution  of 
the  church,  should  be  filed  with  the  recorder  of 
deeds,  or  such  other  officer  as  the  State  appoints  for 
this  purpose. 

Corporate  seal.  In  some  of  the  States  a  corporate 
seal  is  positively  necessary.  Seal  presses,  such 
as  notaries  use,  are  very  inexpensive,  and  a  specially 
designed  seal,  with  a  motto  or  device,  or  both,  costs 
very  few  dollars,  and  is  appropriate.  Nearly  every 
church  has  occasion  now  and  then  to  execute  legal 
documents,  and  in  addition  to  this  it  is  appropriate 
that  letters  missive,  church  letters,  and  similar  docu- 
ments should  bear  a  seal. 

The  device  should  be  simple,  for  the  impression 
should  not  exceed  two  inches  in  diameter,  and  it 
should  be  a  design  somewhat  easily  understood. 


CHAPTER  III 
The  Constitution  of  a  Baptist  Church 

THERE  is  no  absolute  necessity  for  a  Baptist 
church  to  have  a  written  constitution  and  by- 
laws. Many  churches  proceed,  somewhat  in 
the  manner  of  the  British  Parliament,  in  accordance 
with  general  precedent,  and  obedient  to  such  stand- 
ing rules  as  from  time  to  time  may  have  been 
established.  It  is  altogether  desirable,  however,  in 
accordance  with  almost  universal  American  usage 
in  all  kinds  of  organizations,  to  have  definite  rules 
of  procedure.  New  members  naturally  desire  to 
know  the  proper  order  of  the  body  which  they  join, 
and  questions  of  procedure  should  not  be  left  to 
be  determined  by  the  memory  of  ''  the  oldest  in- 
habitant." 

A  few  general  principles  are  definitely  recognized. 

The  presiding  officer.  Unless  the  constitution  of 
the  church  provides  otherwise  the  pastor  is  the 
moderator  of  all  business  meetings  of  the  church, 
excepting  those  which  relate  to  his  own  work  or 
salary,  or  which  may  have  been  called  for  the  con- 
sideration of  some  matter  in  which  he  has  a  per- 
sonal interest.  In  the  absence  of  the  pastor  the 
senior  deacon  may  call  a  meeting  of  the  church  to 

22 


The  Constitution  of  a  Baptist  Church     23 

order  and  call  for  the  nomination  of  a  moderator, 
or  if  the  meeting  is  one  especially  for  the  considera- 
tion of  financial  business  the  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  or  of  the  finance  committee,  instead 
of  the  senior  deacon,  may  call  the  meeting  to  order. 
There  are  a  few  churches  which  elect  a  moderator 
for  the  year  to  preside  at  all  the  business  meetings 
of  the  church.  There  is  difference  of  opinion  upon 
this  point,  however,  but  the  practice  has  some  ad- 
vantages. 

Records.  The  clerk  of  the  church  should  keep  a 
correct  record  of  all  business  transacted  by  the 
church,  and  should  record  it  in  a  permanently  bound 
book  provided  for  that  purpose.  It  is  not  necessary 
that  he  should  record  motions  made  and  lost,  nor  the 
names  of  those  who  participate  in  the  discussions, 
nor  in  general  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  or 
against  a  motion  or  a  candidate  for  office. 

The  important  items  to  be  entered  upon  the 
records  are:  First,  the  time  and  place  of  the  meet- 
ing, with  a  copy  of  the  call,  if  a  special  call  has 
been  issued.  Secondly,  the  devotional  service  with 
which  the  meeting  is  opened.  Thirdly,  the  name  of 
the  moderator.  Fourthly,  the  reading  of  past 
records  and  their  approval  by  the  church.  Fifthly, 
the  business  transacted,  including  reports  of  com- 
mittees, which  need  not  be  copied  in  full,  but  which 
should  be  referred  to  and  kept  on  file  and  whose 
formal  recommendations  should  be  included  in  the 
minutes.     Sixthly,  the  full  text  of  all  resolutions 


24  A  Baptist  Manual 

or  motions  passed  by  the  church.  Seventhly,  ad- 
journment.    Eighthly,  signature  of   the  clerk.^ 

Unless  there  is  a  demand  for  a  yea  and  nay  vote 
the  names  of  persons  favoring  or  opposing  a  meas- 
ure should  not  be  recorded.  It  is  not  generally 
necessary  or  expedient  to  record  the  names  of  per- 
sons making  routine  motions,  but  formal  resolutions 
should  be  recorded  with  the  name  of  the  member 
proposing  them,  or  the  committee  or  the  Board  by 
which  they  are  presented. 

All  motions  that  are  formal  in  their  nature  and 
whose  full  substance  may  not  easily  be  gathered  by 
the  clerk  when  verbally  stated,  should  be  submitted 
in  writing. 

The  financial  management  of  the  church.  The 
officers  who  have  charge  of  the  finances  of  the 
church  should  be  men  of  unquestioned  probity. 
They  should  be  men  of  experience  and  of  recog- 
nized character,  and  should  attend  to  the  business 
affairs  of  the  church  with  promptness  and  accuracy. 
The  treasurer  should  be  a  man  of  blameless  honesty, 
and  should  be  protected  by  all  the  safeguards  that 
would  be  employed  in  any  business  of  like  respon- 
sibility. If  there  is  a  local  bank  he  should  deposit 
all  money  of  the  church  and  pay  all  bills  with 
cliecks,  retaining  vouchers  for  each  expenditure, 
and  having  all  his  accounts  thoroughly  audited.  He 
should  keep  all  the  benevolent  funds  of  the  church 

l"The  Church  Clerk,"  by  Rev.  Z.  Grenell,  D.  D.,  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society,  is  an  excellent  compendium  of  the  duties  of  this 
officer. 


The  Constitution  of  a  Baptist  Church     25 

separate  from  those  for  current  expenses;  and,  of 
course,  should  keep  all  church  moneys  entirely 
separate  from  his  own  money.  These  are  simple 
suggestions  and  ought  to  be  needless. 

In  many  churches  the  financial  management  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  trustees.  The  best  experience 
seems  to  indicate,  however,  that  it  is  wise  to  give 
to  the  trustees  merely  the  legal  duties  belonging  to 
them  under  the  statute.  They  may  have  the  care  of 
the  building,  and  represent  the  church  in  all  legal 
matters.  It  is  very  much  wiser  for  the  financial 
management  to  be  in  the  hands  of  a  less  stable  body. 
A  finance  committee,  including  the  treasurer  of  the 
church,  appointed  every  year,  is  likely  to  remain 
nearer  to  the  membership  of  the  church  than  the 
trustees,  who  are  appointed  for  long  terms  and  for 
a  different  purpose. 

The  unity  of  the  church  organization.  It  is  de- 
sirable that  the  constitution  should  provide  that  all 
societies  should  be  part  of  the  single  church  organ- 
ization. Great  harm  has  come  from  the  loose  idea 
that  the  church  is  the  body  meeting  for  worship, 
while  men's  clubs,  and  women's  societies,  and  young 
people's  societies,  and  the  Sunday-school,  and  a 
dozen  other  organizations  are  separate  bodies  alto- 
gether autonomous.  Each  of  these  should  be  defin- 
itely related  to  the  church  itself.  The  pastor  and 
deacons  should  have  a  general  oversight  of  them  all. 

Business  meetings.  The  ordinary  business  of 
the  church  may  be  transacted  at  any  midweek  meet- 


26  A  Baptist  Manual 

ing,  or  in  case  of  necessity  at  any  Sunday  service, 
without  previous  notice.  Record  should  always  be 
carefully  kept  of  such  business.  If  the  clerk  is  not 
present  a  temporary  clerk  should  be  appointed.  It 
ns  customary  for  constitutions  to  specify  the  num- 
ber of  members  who  must  be  present  in  order  to 
constitute  a  quorum.  No  question  involving  the 
appropriation  of  money,  or  important  changes  in  the 
policy  of  the  church,  or  amendment  to  its  sys- 
tem of  doctrine  or  rules,  should  be  undertaken  with- 
out previous  public  notice.  In  general,  propositions 
contemplating  the  expenditure  of  money  should  pre- 
viously be  considered  by  the  Finance  Committee, 
and  matters  affecting  the  policy  and  doctrine  of  the 
church  should  be  considered  in  advance  by  the  dea- 
cons. This  is  not  legally  necessary,  but  it  is  a  cour- 
teous recognition  of  those  in  office,  and  almost  in- 
variably a  motion  gains  greatly  in  favor  if  the  per- 
son proposing  it  is  able  to  say  that  this  has  received 
the  approval  of  the  official  Board  which  it  most 
nearly  concerns. 

When  special  meetings  are  called  by  a  group  of 
members,  or  by  one  of  the  official  Boards,  the  call 
signed  by  the  members  who  have  drafted  it  should 
be  read  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sunday  previous  to 
the  meeting  and  incorporated  into  the  minutes  of 
the  meetings. 

Annual  church  meetings.  Annual  meetings  of  the 
church,  and  meetings  for  the  election  of  officers, 
should  be  conducted  with  special  care  to  express  the 


The  Constitution  of  a  Baptist  Church     27 

will  of  the  church,  and  to  preserve  its  records.  The 
reports  of  the  treasurer  should  be  audited  and  ap- 
proved. The  records  of  the  clerk  should  be  certi- 
fied. All  branches  of  the  church  work  should  be 
heard  from,  and  the  officers  should  be  elected  with 
care  to  conform  to  all  the  requirements  of  the 
church  constitution  and  rules.  All  things  should  be 
done  decently  and  in  order,  and  with  a  view  to 
edifying. 

The  form  of  constitution.  Each  church  should 
prepare  its  constitution  to  meet  its  own  special 
needs.  A  form  of  constitution  which  is  not  unduly 
elaborate  so  as  to  be  incapable  of  adaptation  has  been 
prepared,  and  will  be  found  in  Part  11.  It  should,  of 
course,  be  kept  in  mind,  as  is  suggested  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Rules  of  Order,  that  a  church  is  not 
to  be  conducted  with  the  punctilious  exactness  of  a 
debating  society.  The  member  who  is  continually 
rising  to  a  point  of  order  is  a  nuisance.  At  the 
same  time  an  orderly  and  regular  procedure  is  con- 
ducive alike  to  efficiency  and  harmony.  The  con- 
stitution, therefore,  may  well  cover  everything  that 
is  likely  to  arise  in  the  general  conduct  of  the  church. 


CHAPTER  IV 
The  Conduct  of  Church  Meetings 

THE  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  church  are 
its  supreme  law.  But  the  general  conduct  of 
its  business  is  amenable  to  the  ordinary  rules 
of  deliberative  bodies.  It  is  usual  to  specify  in  the 
by-laws  some  standard  manual  of  parliamentary  law 
as  that  which  shall  be  followed.  Robert's  "  Rules  of 
Order  "  is  most  commonly  employed,  although  Bar- 
ton's "  Rules  of  Order  for  Ecclesiastical  Assem- 
blies "  is  being  found  more  satisfactory  for  church 
meetings.  The  rules  should  be  followed  with  care, 
as  orderly  procedure  tends  to  facilitate  business ;  but 
it  is  a  great  mistake  to  endeavor  to  conduct  a  church 
meeting  with  the  precision  of  a  session  of  Congress. 
In  large  meetings,  however,  such  as  the  Northern 
and  Southern  Baptist  Conventions,  the  absolute 
exactness  of  parHamentary  procedure  is  of  very 
great  importance. 

Opening  a  meeting.  The  moderator  announces 
that  the  assembly  will  be  in  order,  and  then  calls 
upon  some  member  to  offer  prayer.  The  minutes 
of  the  preceding  meeting  should  then  be  read  and 
approved.  If  brief  business  is  done  at  regular  mid- 
week meetings  and  a  more  formal  business  meeting 
28 


The  Conduct  of  Church  Meetings        29 

is  held  once  a  month,  the  minutes  of  all  the  business 
should  be  read  at  the  latter  meeting. 

The  introduction  of  business.  Business  may 
come  before  the  church  by  reports  of  officers  and 
committees  or  by  motions  duly  made  and  seconded. 
There  should  be  a  regular  order  in  which  officers 
and  standing  committees  make  reports  upon  the 
business  committed  to  their  care.  If  these  reports 
relate  simply  to  what  has  been  done,  and  contain 
no  specific  recommendations,  it  is  sufficient  that  a 
motion  be  made  after  each  report  has  been  read  that 
it  "  be  received."  The  motion  is  really  unnecessary, 
but  is  a  courteous  expression  of  general  approval. 
If,  however,  a  standing  or  special  committee  makes 
recommendations,  these  require  more  definite  action. 
The  most  correct  form  is  for  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  to  present  its  recommendations  in  a  series 
of  resolutions,  and  to  move  that  the  church  adopt 
them.  This,  however,  is  not  commonly  done.  The 
committee  states  in  its  report  what  action  it  advises 
the  church  to  take.  If  no  one  desires  that  such 
action  be  taken  the  motion  to  receive  the  report  ends 
the  matter.  If  some  member  approves  the  recom- 
mendation he  should  move  that  it  be  adopted.  This 
opens  the  subject  for  discussion,  and  further  action 
will  be  in  accordance  with  the  rules  governing  mo- 
tions. 

The  disposition  of  a  question.  The  motion  to 
adopt  the  recommendations  of  a  committee,  or  a 
motion  to  take  some  definite  action  of  any  kind, 


30  A  Baptist  Manual 

having  been  made,  the  moderator  should  state  it 
clearly  and  give  opportunity  for  discussion.  It  may 
be  disposed  of  in  one  of  the  following  v^ays : 

1.  By  simple  vote  it  may  be  carried  or  lost. 

2.  It  may  be  changed  in  any  way  desired  by  an 
amendment.  Such  amendment  must  be  discussed 
and  voted  upon  before  the  main  motion  can  be 
further  considered.  The  amendment  may  itself  be 
amended  in  the  same  way,  but  the  process  cannot 
go  further. 

3.  If  the  amendment  is  lost  the  question  recurs 
to  its  original  form.  If  it  has  been  carried,  the 
question  is  still  before  the  meeting  in  its  amended 
form,  and  must  be  voted  upon. 

4.  If  it  is  desired  to  take  somewhat  different 
action  than  the  motion  contemplates,  but  which  is 
too  far  different  to  be  put  in  the  form  of  amendment, 
a  substitute  motion  may  be  offered.  This  has  the 
same  character  as  an  amendment.  If  lost,  the  ques- 
tion recurs  to  its  original  form.  But  if  the  sub- 
stitute is  carried  it  must  still  be  voted  upon  again 
as  the  main  motion. 

5.  If  it  is  felt  that  the  meeting  is  not  ready  to 
discuss  the  motion,  but  that  a  committee  should 
first  consider  it,  a  motion  may  be  made  to  refer  it 
to  a  committee;  or,  if  it  is  desired  to  refer  it  back  to 
the  committee  from  which  it  came,  the  motion 
should  be  to  "  recommit."  The  matter  will  then 
come  before  the  church  again  when  this  committee 
reports. 


The  Conduct  of  Church  Meetings        31 

6.  If  it  is  desired  to  get  rid  of  the  whole  matter 
without  discussion,  the  simplest  motion  is  to  ''  lay 
on  the  table."  This  is  undebatable  and  must  be 
at  once  put.  It  should  not  be  employed  to  stifle 
discussion  in  any  discourteous  manner,  but  is  very 
useful  when  no  definite  action  is  desirable. 

7.  If  simple  postponement  is  desired  the  motion 
should  not  be  to  lay  on  the  table,  but  to  ''  postpone 
to  a  certain  time."    This  motion  is  not  debatable. 

The  point  of  order.  The  moderator  decides  the 
method  of  procedure,  but  if  he  makes  mistake  and 
allows  some  matter  to  be  done  irregularly,  it  is 
permissible  for  any  member  to  call  his  attention  to 
the  fact.  The  form  is  the  statement :  "  I  rise  to  a 
point  of  order."  This  may  be  done  at  any  time. 
The  moderator  will  ask  the  objector  to  state  his 
point,  and  will  then  give  his  decision.  If  the  mem- 
ber still  objects  to  the  decision  he  may  appeal  to 
the  meeting,  using  the  form,  ''  I  appeal  from  the 
decision  of  the  chair."  This  must  receive  a  second. 
The  moderator  will  then  put  the  motion  in  the  form, 
"  Shall  the  decision  of  the  chair  stand  as  the  judg- 
ment of  the  church?  "  An  affirmative  vote  will  sus- 
tain his  decision ;  a  negative  vote  will  reverse  it. 
It  need  hardly  be  said  that  points  of  order  should 
be  raised  in  church  meetings  only  in  the  kindest 
spirit,  and  only  if  some  very  serious  breach  of  order 
seems  to  be  made;  and  that  an  appeal  from  the 
chair  should  not  be  taken  unless  gravely  necessary. 

Making   a   motion.      In   making   a   motion    one 


^2  A  Baptist  Manual 

should  rise  and  address  the  chair.  On  recognition 
by  the  chair  he  proceeds  to  make  his  motion.  All 
motions  must  receive  a  second  in  order  to  be  enter- 
tained. Lost  motions  are  not  usually  recorded.  In 
discriminating  as  to  persons  addressing  the  chair 
at  the  same  time  the  chairman  recognizes  first  the 
most  distant  speaker,  the  largest  number,  and  the 
most  remote  date. 

Voting.  The  vote  is  usually  taken  by  show  of 
hands  or  by  saying  aye  and  no.  If  the  chair  is  in 
doubt,  a  rising  vote  should  be  taken.  Elections 
should  generally  be  by  ballot. 

It  should  be  understood  that  the  motion  that 
"  the  secretary  cast  the  ballot  "  is  really  a  unanimous 
agreement  that  every  one  except  the  secretary  shall 
refrain  from  voting.  If,  therefore  one  other  per- 
son desires  to  vote,  this  form  of  election  by  ballot 
cannot  be  used. 

Adjournment.  Formal  business  meetings  close 
by  a  motion  to  adjourn.  This  may  be  amended 
if  it  is  thought  desirable  to  fix  a  set  time  to  which 
adjournment  shall  be  made.  A  motion  to  adjourn 
is  not  debatable,  and  when  seconded  must  be  put. 


CHAPTER  V 
The  Church  and  Society 

REASON  for  the  society.  Many  of  the  older 
Baptist  churches  have  societies  affiliated  with 
them  for  the  purpose  of  holding  and  mana- 
ging the  church  property.  This  double  system  of 
church  and  society  is  a  legacy  from  old  days  in 
New  England,  when  a  church  could  not  become  in- 
corporated, and  the  parish  owned  the  church  prop- 
erty and  provided  for  the  support  of  public  worship. 

It  has  been  argued  in  defense  of  the  system  that 
it  enables  men  of  good  judgment,  who  are  well  dis- 
posed toward  the  church  and  are  supporters  of  it, 
to  assume  definite  responsibility  with  reference  to 
the  business  affairs  of  the  church,  in  which  affairs 
their  judgment  is  often  of  real  worth.  But  it  is  a 
cumbersome  arrangement,  involving  occasional  em- 
barrassment, and  few  of  the  new  churches  adopt  it. 
Many  churches  that  formerly  employed  the  system 
have  changed  to  a  single  organization. 

Powers  and  limitations.  Where  the  society  exists, 
it  is  a  holding  corporation,  managing  the  business 
interests  of  the  church.  It  owns  the  church  prop- 
erty, subject  to  the  use  of  the  church,  but  can 
have  no  power  to  alienate  the  property,  or  to  use  it 

33 


34  ^  Baptist  Manual 

for  purposes  contrary  to  the  welfare  of  the  church. 
It  can,  however,  refuse  to  provide  means  for  the 
repair  of  the  building  or  for  the  support  of  its 
minister,  and  this  it  sometimes  has  been  known  to 
do,  though  happily  not  frequently. 

Both  church  and  society  must  concur  in  the  call 
of  a  pastor.  The  action  must  originate  with  the 
church,  the  society  having  no  power  to  begin  pro- 
ceedings looking  toward  the  securing  of  the  min- 
ister. The  church  having  issued  an  invitation  to  a 
pastor,  first  notifies  the  society  of  its  proposed  call, 
and  the  society  considers  whether  it  will  concur 
in  the  call,  and  provide  the  support  of  the  minister. 
The  society  has  sole  power  to  fix  the  compensation 
of  the  pastor,  and  is  the  only  body  that  can  be  sued. 
The  church  alone  is  responsible  for  the  conduct 
of  the  pastor,  who  is  not  commonly  a  member  of 
the  society,  but  is  invariably  a  member  of  the  church. 
Should  the  minister  displease  the  society,  he  can- 
not be  expelled  by  that  body  without  the  consent  of 
the  church.  The  society  can,  however,  refuse  to 
support  him.  If  he  has  a  contract  for  a  definite 
period,  his  salary  can  be  collected  from  the  society 
by  civil  process.  Should  the  church  desire  to  ter- 
minate the  pastorate,  the  concurrence  of  the  so- 
ciety must  be  secured. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  so  complicated  a  sys- 
tem has  not  given  rise  to  more  frequent  friction. 
Usually  the  arrangement  has  worked  well,  although 
it  is  an  unequal  yoking  together  of  things  unlike. 


The  Church  and  Society  35 

In  nearly  if  not  all  the  States  now,  a  church 
can  incorporate  as  a  "  corporation  not  for  profit." 
As  such  a  corporation  it  has  full  power  to  hold  its 
own  property,  and  conduct  its  own  business.  Where 
the  double  system  of  organization  exists,  and  it  is 
desired  to  simplify  the  arrangement,  the  church 
should  first  secure  incorporation.  The  society  then 
at  a  special  meeting,  in  whose  call  the  purpose  of 
the  meeting  is  definitely  stated,  should  transfer  all 
its  property  to  the  church,  the  land  and  building  by 
deed  and  the  personal  property  by  bill  of  sale.  The 
transfer  being  completed,  the  society  may  disband. 
In  case  of  any  question  of  property  rights  the  guid- 
ance of  a  lawyer  may  be  sought,  but  the  process  is 
a  simple  one  where  all  parties  are  in  agreement. 

In  view  of  the  manifest  disadvantages,  and  of 
the  passing  of  the  condition  which  in  the  begin- 
ning made  necessary  the  organization  of  the  society, 
it  is  earnestly  recommended  that  new  churches  avoid 
this  needless  complication,  and  that  wherever  con- 
ditions are  favorable  to  such  action,  the  society  con- 
vey its  property  to  the  incorporated  church  with 
which  it  is  affiliated,  and  then  disband. 


CHAPTER  VI 
Church  Membership 

A  BAPTIST  church  is  a  democratic  body.  All 
members  have  equal  privileges.  In  the  older 
churches  only  adult  male  members  voted  in 
matters  pertaining  to  the  business  of  the  church, 
and  many  churches  fix  a  minimum  age,  below  which 
children  are  not  entitled  to  vote.  In  all  matters  re- 
lating to  important  changes  in  the  constitution  or 
transfer  of  property,  votes  should  be  cast  only  by 
persons  of  legal  age,  or  of  an  age  specified  in  the 
constitution.  Except  for  these  simple  restrictions, 
all  the  members  of  a  Baptist  church  stand  upon  an 
equal  basis.  AH  ofiicers  are  chosen  by  the  body  of 
the  church,  and  the  final  voice  is  that  of  the  people. 
Conditions  of  membership.  The  conditions  of 
membership  in  a  Baptist  church  are  (i)  confession 
of  loyalty  to  Christ  by  submission  to  the  ordinance 
of  baptism  as  practised  in  the  New  Testament 
church,  (2)  assent  to  its  covenant,  and  (3)  the  af- 
firmative vote  of  the  majority  of  the  members 
present  and  voting  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  where 
such  business  may  properly  be  transacted.  The 
covenant  should  be  brief  and  simple,  and  have 
embodied  in  it  a  brief  confession  of  faith  in 
36 


Church  Membership  37 

Christ,  and  the  promise  to  submit  to  the  government 
and  discipline  of  the  church,  to  walk  with  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  as  Christian  brethren,  and  to 
promote  the  edification,  purity,  and  peace  of  the 
church  until  regularly  dismissed  therefrom. 

Assent  to  the  creed  is  not  a  necessary  condition 
of  church-membership  in  a  Baptist  church.  The 
creed  is  an  attempt  to  embody  the  substance  of  that 
faith  in  which  the  church  interprets  the  word  of 
God,  but  the  word  of  God  itself  and  not  the  creed 
offers  the  final  test.  The  creed,  however,  is  not  to 
be  disregarded  by  any  member  of  the  church,  al- 
though it  admits  of  a  very  wide  latitude  of  inter- 
pretation, and  is  always  adopted  as  a  document 
subject  to  revision. 

A  person  desiring  membership  in  a  Baptist  church 
is  first  examined  as  to  his  fitness  for  membership. 
This  examination  may  be  conducted  before  the 
whole  body  of  the  church,  or  it  may  be  delegated 
to  a  committee  composed  of  the  pastor  and  deacons, 
or  of  such  other  members  as  the  church  appoints. 
It  is  not  the  purpose  of  such  an  examination  to 
break  the  bruised  reed  nor  quench  the  dimly  burn- 
ing light;  but  he  that  is  weak  in  the  faith  is  com- 
monly received,  and  not  to  doubtful  disputations. 
An  examination  conducted  in  a  spirit  of  Christian 
kindness  is  of  value  in  protecting  the  church  against 
unworthy  members,  and  also  affords  a  profitable  in- 
troduction to  new  members. 

A  candidate  having  been  examined  as  to  his  fit- 

D 


38  A  Baptist  Manual 

ness  for  membership,  and  having  been  approved  by 
the  examining  body,  is  recommended  for  member- 
ship in  the  church.  He  makes  a  simple  statement  of 
his  faith  and  desire  to  unite  w^ith  the  church  by 
baptism.  It  is  the  right  of  any  member  to  ask 
questions  of  the  candidate,  but  this  right  should  be 
used  only  with  kindness.  Questions  should  never 
be  inquisitorial  unless  the  interrogator  has  good 
grounds  to  fear  that  an  unworthy  person  is  about  to 
be  received.  The  proper  form  of  motion  is  that 
the  candidate  be  accepted  and  after  baptism  be 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  church.  Some- 
times the  applicant  is  required  to  withdraw  while 
the  vote  is  taken,  but  this  is  not  essential,  nor  in- 
deed wholly  desirable. 

Persons  desiring  to  unite  by  letter  should  present 
their  letters  to  the  pastor  or  chairman  of  the  dea- 
cons. Letters  should  be  acted  on  only  upon  recom- 
mendation of  the  deacons.  This  may  generally  be 
a  mere  formality,  but  sometimes  may  afford  a  most 
valuable  opportunity  for  investigation. 

It  is  usual  for  the  minister  at  the  following  com- 
munion service  to  extend  to  each  of  the  new  mem- 
bers the  hand  of  fellowship,  and  to  address  to  each 
one  a  word  of  greeting  and  encouragement.  This, 
however,  is  not  essential  to  membership,  and  the 
failure  to  receive  the  hand  of  fellowship  in  no  way 
impairs  membership. 

The  rights  of  members.  Each  member  of  a 
church  has  a  right  to  share  in  its  public  worship,  to 


Church  Membership  39 

participate  in  its  meetings  for  conference  and  prayer, 
to  discuss  proposed  measures  and  changes,  and,  sub- 
ject to  such  age  restriction  as  the  constitution  may 
require,  to  vote  in  tlie  transaction  of  its  business 
and  in  the  election  of  its  officers.  Each  member  is 
eHgible  to  any  office  in  the  gift  of  the  church — the 
church  having  full  authority  to  constitute  one  of  its 
own  members  a  trustee,  a  deacon,  or  even  a  minis- 
ter; and  the  minister,  v^hether  elected  from  the 
membership  of  the  church  or  called  from  another 
church  to  become  its  minister,  is  a  member  of  the 
church  in  all  respects  and  with  rights  the  same  as 
those  of  the  laity. 

Each  member  of  the  church  is  sole  custodian  of 
his  own  conscience,  having  a  right  to  interpret  the 
Scriptures  and  to  determine  his  own  conduct  in  the 
light  of  that  interpretation,  so  long  as  his  conduct 
does  not  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  others,  nor  dis- 
turb the  peace  or  impugn  the  good  name  of  the 
church.  It  is  not  essential  to  Christian  fellowship 
that  all  members  of  the  church  should  think  alike,  or 
that  the  creed  should  be  held  in  such  complete  uni- 
formity of  interpretation  as  to  fetter  the  conscience 
of  the  members.  The  member  who  has  come  to 
differ  from  the  creed  of  the  church  need  not  too 
hastily  assume  that  he  has  no  further  right  to  be  a 
member  of  the  body.  He  has  the  right  to  induce 
the  church  to  change  its  creed  if  he  can;  and  if 
he  fails  in  this  endeavor,  he  still  may  consider 
whether  his  own  change  of  faith  is  such  as  to  pre- 


40  A  Baptist  Manual 

vent  his  continuing  in  fellowship  with  his  brethren 
in  the  spirit  of  the  church  covenant.  By  that  cove- 
nant he  is  bound  to  seek  the  edification,  purity,  and 
peace  of  the  church.  He  has  no  right  to  disturb  the 
church  by  wearisome,  profitless  discussion,  nor  has 
the  church  a  right  to  impose  upon  him  any  undue 
tests  in  the  name  of  Christian  faith,  nor  to  call  un- 
clean and  common  that  which  God  has  cleansed. 
The  final  test  is  that  of  Christian  character.  "  As 
many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are 
the  sons  of  God."  "  He  that  doeth  righteousness  is 
righteous,  even  as  he  is  righteous." 

The  majority  rule.  Yet  it  is  desirable  that  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit  shall  be  preserved  in  the  bonds 
of  peace.  An  inconsiderate  majority,  determined  to 
rule  by  mere  force  of  numbers,  and  a  peevish,  vin- 
dictive minority,  have  neither  of  them  any  proper 
place  in  a  Christian  church.  We  cannot  all  think 
alike,  but  we  can  all  love  alike;  and  the  majority 
vote  is  of  value,  not  in  determining  who  may  "  rule  " 
in  arrogant  dominion,  but  what  is  the  mind  of  the 
Spirit  expressed  through  the  united  membership  of 
the  church,  which  is  the  body  of  Christ. 

The  rights  of  the  minority.  The  principle  that 
in  a  Baptist  church  the  majority  rules,  is  not  to  be 
understood  in  such  a  sense  as  that  a  member  is 
deprived  of  any  right  on  account  of  being  in  the 
minority.  It  is  his  indisputable  right  to  be  in  the 
minority  if  he  chooses  to  be  so.  He  is  to  hold  his 
opinion  and  express  it  freely,  but  always  in  charity ; 


Church  Membership  41 

and  so  long  as  he  does  this  he  cannot  be  censured 
for  not  voting  with  the  majority. 

When  a  church  adopts  new  methods  or  creed  tests 
and  a  minority  refuse  to  accept  them,  they  are  not 
thereby  disfellowshiped  nor  subject  to  any  dis- 
abihty. 

Duties  of  members  of  the  church.  It  is  the  duty 
of  every  member  of  the  church  to  perform  faithfully 
the  letter  and  spirit  of  its  covenant,  to  separate  him- 
self from  sin  and  the  appearance  of  evil,  to  make 
the  rule  of  Christ  the  test  of  his  worldly  business 
and  amusements,  and  to  live  a  life  of  prayer  and 
obedience  to  the  word  of  God.  It  is  his  duty  to 
attend  the  services  of  the  church  as  regularly  as  may 
be,  and  to  contribute  to  its  support  and  to  its  be- 
nevolent agencies,  in  proportion  to  his  ability  and 
to  the  point  of  personal  sacrifice.  It  is  his  duty  to 
exercise  toward  his  fellow-members  a  spirit  of 
Christian  courtesy  and  consideration,  bearing  with 
the  weak  and  manifesting  toward  all  the  spirit  of 
Christian  brotherhood,  which  is  the  spirit  of  Christ. 
Each  member  should  find  some  sphere  of  activity  in 
which  he  may  perform  some  duty  peculiarly  his 
own. 

Dismission.  A  member  of  a  church  removing  to 
another  locality  or  desiring  for  any  other  good  rea- 
son to  change  his  church  relations,  may  apply  for  a 
letter  of  dismission  from  the  church  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  and  of  recommendation  to  another  church 
with  which  it  is  in   fellowship.     Such  letters  are 


42  A  Baptist  Manual 

granted  by  all  Baptist  churches  to  churches  of  our 
own  faith.  In  order  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  pass- 
ing upon  the  evangelical  status  of  churches  of  other 
denominations,  it  has  not  been  customary  to  grant 
letters  to  members  going  from  our  own  to  such 
other  bodies.  A  member  is  always  entitled,  how- 
ever, to  a  certificate  of  his  Christian  standing  in 
the  church.  This  serves  all  the  purposes  of  a  letter 
of  dismission,  and  when  it  is  formally  granted  to  an 
applicant  has  the  efTect  of  terminating  his  mem- 
bership.   Forms  of  letters  will  be  found  in  Part  II. 

Letters  of  dismission  should  be  requested  in  per- 
son or  by  writing.  A  letter  requesting  dismission 
may  properly  convey  to  the  church  some  expression 
of  Christian  fellowship,  of  happy  memory,  and  of 
continued  interest. 

A  letter  of  dismission  granted  to  a  member  must 
be  addressed  to  a  particular  church.  It  is  not 
orderly  to  give  letters  not  designating  the  church 
to  which  they  are  to  be  presented.  There  is  an 
erroneous  opinion  held  by  many  that  they  possess 
by  right  a  letter  of  church  membership,  which  may 
be  ''  put  into  "  or  "  taken  out  of  "  a  church  at  will. 
A  disaffected  member  often  "  calls  "  for  his  letter. 
Of  course  he  has  no  letter.  He  has  a  church- 
membership,  which  he  may  rightly  have  changed 
from  one  church  to  another,  but  he  cannot  hold 
his  membership  in  suspension.  He  cannot  obtain  a 
"  demit."  It  has  generally  been  held  that  a  member 
cannot  resign,  but  resignation  from  any  organization 


Church  Membership  43 

is  an  inherent  right,  which  the  church  should  be  the 
last  body  to  deny. 

What  is  good  and  regular  standing  f  A  letter  cer- 
tifying that  a  member  is  in  good  and  regular  stand- 
ing merely  testifies  that  there  are  no  charges  against 
him.  It  does  not  certify  that  he  is  in  all  respects 
what  those  voting  for  the  letter  could  wish  him  to 
be.  The  expression  ''  good  and  regular  standing  " 
is  technical,  and  is  that  which  describes  the  status 
of  all  members  who  are  not  under  discipline. 

When  may  a  church  refuse  a  letter f  A  church 
may  always  refuse  a  letter  to  a  member  under  dis- 
cipline, or  to  one  who  is  concerned  in  a  recent 
scandal  or  misdemeanor,  and  who  applies  for  a  letter 
to  protect  himself  from  discipline.  But  a  church 
that  has  carried  on  its  roll  the  name  of  a  member 
who  is  negligent  or  unfaithful  to  duty,  and  has  long 
been  known  as  such,  and  which  has  neglected  to 
discipline  him,  may  not  bring  him  to  trial  for  long- 
past  offenses  after  he  has  applied  for  his  letter. 
But  it  may  refuse  him  a  letter  if  in  addition  he  has 
been  guilty  of  recent  and  more  gross  offenses;  or  if 
the  failure  of  the  church  to  bring  him  to  trial  has 
been  by  reason  of  a  desire  to  labor  with  him  in 
private  in  the  hope  of  bringing  him  to  repentance. 

Status  of  dismissed  members.  Members  dis- 
missed by  letter  remain  theoretically  members  of  the 
church  until  the  letter  is  accepted  by  another  church. 
The  period  of  a  letter's  validity  is  commonly  limited 
to  six  months.     After  that  time  it  lapses,  and  the 


44  ^  Baptist  Manual 

member  remains  in  the  church  of  his  former  mem- 
bership. In  practice,  however,  most  churches  erase 
the  name  of  a  member  as  soon  as  a  letter  is  granted. 
It  may  easily  happen  therefore  that  one  loses  mem- 
bership in  one  church  without  gaining  it  in  another. 
Churches  should  regard  dismissed  members  as  non- 
resident until  notified  of  their  reception  by  some 
other  church.  The  difficulty  in  the  way  of  this  regu- 
lar procedure  is  the  carelessness  of  clerks  in  sending 
such  notifications.  If  the  regular  course  is  pursued, 
at  the  end  of  one  year  or  two  years,  as  the  church 
may  provide  in  its  constitution,  the  name  of  the 
absent  member  may  be  placed  on  the  absent  list. 
Letters  subsequently  granted  to  such  members 
should  be  on  condition  that  the  member  shall  ac- 
count for  his  conduct  in  the  interval. 

Dropping  names  from  roll.  Persons  who  have 
been  absent  from  a  church  for  a  period  of  years 
and  have  not  been  heard  from  may  be  dropped  from 
the  membership  of  the  church  by  vote  of  the  church, 
the  names  having  been  read  at  a  previous  meeting. 
The  custom  of  dropping  names  is  comparatively 
modern  and  has  been  much  opposed,  many  good 
authorities  contending  that  in  such  case  the  church 
has  no  alternative  but  excommunication.  The  cus- 
tom, however,  has  attained  recognized  standing,  and 
is  certain  to  be  established  because  of  its  mani- 
fest usefulness.  A  church  cannot  be  compelled  to 
cumber  its  roll  indefinitely  with  the  names  of  per- 
sons long  absent,  who  may  be  no  longer  living,  nor 


Church  Membership  45 

can  it  be  compelled  to  excommunicate  members 
against  whom  it  has  no  positive  knowledge  of  un- 
christian conduct.  The  practice  of  dropping  names, 
while  needing  to  be  kept  free  from  abuse,  is  one 
that  deserves  recognition  as  an  established  Baptist 
custom. 

Questions  sometimes  arise  concerning  the  grant- 
ing of  a  letter  to  a  person  whose  name  has  been 
dropped.  Cases  have  been  known  where  mem- 
bers, after  a  long  interval,  have  requested  a  let- 
ter after  their  names  have  disappeared  from  the 
roll.  If  the  former  member  shows  reasonable  evi- 
dence that  he  has  continued  to  live  a  Christian 
life,  or  if  he  gives  evidence  of  recent  conversion,  the 
church  has  option  of  two  courses.  First,  it  may 
reinstate  him  for  the  purpose  of  granting  him  a 
regular  letter.  This  can  be  done  at  any  business 
meeting  of  the  church.  Secondly,  the  church  may 
issue  a  certificate  that  he  became  a  member  on  a 
certain  date  and  remained  in  fellowship  with  the 
church  until  a  certain  time  when  he  removed  from 
the  vicinity  of  the  church ;  that  during  that  period  he 
was  a  member  in  good  standing;  that  on  account  of 
long  absence  his  name  had  been  removed  from  the 
roll;  and  that  the  church,  while  unable  to  grant 
him  an  ordinary  letter  of  recognition,  rejoices  to 
know  of  his  desire  for  a  renewal  of  church  rela- 
tions. 

Letters  zvithout  dismission.  A  member  of  a 
church   contemplating  prolonged   absence   and   de- 


46  A  Baptist  Manual 

siring  to  establish  relations  with  Christians  in  other 
places  may  ask  the  church  for  a  letter  of  recognition 
without  dismission.  Such  letters  have  the  force  of 
a  vote  of  confidence  and  of  Christian  introduction. 
They  may  be  granted  by  the  pastor  or  the  clerk 
of  the  church  without  a  special  vote  of  authoriza- 
tion. Such  letters  have  become  common  in  churches 
in  the  vicinity  of  colleges  where  young  people  desire 
to  establish  church  relations  during  the  years  of 
their  college  course  without  terminating  their  mem- 
bership in  the  home  church.  Such  letters  are  use- 
ful and  the  custom  deserves  to  be  more  widely 
adopted. 

Dismission  to  other  evangelical  organizations.  If 
a  member  of  the  church  in  good  standing  requests 
dismission  to  another  evangelical  body,  he  should  be 
labored  with  in  love,  and  every  right  endeavor  put 
forth  to  retain  him  in  the  fellowship  of  the  church. 
But  if  he  insist,  he  should  not  be  thrust  out  harshly, 
nor  merely  dropped  from  the  roll.  While  a  letter 
cannot  be  addressed  to  that  evangelical  body,  the 
member  may  be  given  a  certificate  that  up  to  the 
time  of  his  dismission  he  was  a  member  in  regular 
standing,  and  that  his  membership  is  terminated  at 
his  own  request. 

Discipline  of  church  members.  Any  member  of  a 
church  who  is  guilty  of  gross  irregularity  of  conduct 
may  be  disciplined  by  the  church.  In  all  such  cases 
the  usual  rule  to  be  followed  is  that  laid  down  by  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  Matthew  18.     Where  the  offense  is 


Church  Membership  47 

private  between  two  members  of  the  church,  these 
two  should  seek  by  all  reasonable  means  to  settle 
the  matter  amicably  between  themselves.  If  this 
fails,  they  may  call  in  one  or  more  Christian 
brethren,  through  whose  counsel,  prayer,  and  ad- 
monition they  may  hope  for  a  brotherly  settlement 
of  their  differences.  Very  rarely  should  it  be  neces- 
sary to  bring  such  matters  up  before  the  body  of  the 
church. 

Where  the  matter  is  private  but  does  not  directly 
involve  another  member  of  the  church,  yet  is  known 
to  one  or  more  members,  he  who  has  knowledge  of 
the  fault  should  go  in  a  Christian  spirit  to  the 
offender  and  endeavor  to  secure  his  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  wrong  he  has  done  and  of  his  promise 
to  forsake  it.  If  he  fails  in  this  endeavor  he  may 
invite  two  or  three  members  of  the  church  in  the 
hope  that  they  may  effect  penitence  and  a  recon- 
ciliation. 

Where  the  matter  involves  grave  public  scandal, 
any  member  of  the  church,  but  preferably  the  of- 
ficers, may  at  once  approach  the  offender  and  re- 
quest him  to  protect  the  good  name  of  the  church 
and  to  save  the  name  of  Christ  from  dishonor,  by 
forsaking  his  evil  way  and  making  public  confes- 
sion of  his  fault. 

If  these  measures  fail,  the  matter  may  be  pre- 
sented to  the  church  in  a  formal  complaint,  speci- 
fying the  wrong  that  has  been  done  and  relating  the 
steps  that  have  already  been  undertaken  in  the  hope 


48  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  reconciliation.  The  church  may  appoint  a  time 
to  hear  the  complaint  and  furnish  notice  of  the  time 
and  a  full  copy  of  the  charge  to  the  person  accused. 
If  it  is  inexpedient  that  the  trial  should  be  conducted 
by  the  church  as  a  whole,  the  church  may  appoint 
a  committee  to  inquire  into  the  case  and  to  make 
its  report  to  the  church. 

If  the  offending  brother  ignores  the  invitation  of 
the  church  or  its  committee  and  refuses  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  inquiry,  the  church  may  proceed  without 
him,  and  hear  the  evidence  and  deal  with  the  matter 
as  shall  seem  best.  In  that  case,  however,  a  mem- 
ber should  be  appointed  to  represent  the  one  con- 
cerned, and  to  secure  his  interests  against  haste  or 
prejudice. 

Testimony  at  church  trials.  A  church  has  no  au- 
thority to  compel  witnesses  or  to  administer  oaths. 
It  must  secure  its  evidence  as  it  can.  On  the  other 
hand  it  is  by  no  means  bound  to  the  narrow  limits 
of  court  procedure.  In  the  absence  of  opposing 
testimony  it  must  assume  that  actions  mean  what 
they  seem  to  mean,  that  conduct  springs  from  such 
motives  as  generally  result  in  those  acts,  and  that 
associations  involve  the  relationship  and  acts  which 
they  seem  to  imply.  The  frequenting  of  improper 
places  without  a  manifest  good  reason  with  the 
result  of  scandal  must  be  held  to  involve  the  con- 
duct which  those  places  suggest.  What  is  called 
*'  common  fame  "  or  generally  accepted  report  must 
be  given  due   weight   in   ecclesiastical   trials,  as  it 


Church  Membership  49 

does  not  and  cannot  have  in  courts  of  law.  The 
man  who  so  conducts  himself  as  to  incur  the 
appearance  of  evil  and  to  bring  discredit  upon  the 
name  of  the  church,  and  who  is  persistent  and 
obdurate  in  that  offense,  and  who  offers  no  reason- 
able explanation,  cannot  compel  the  church  to  prove 
him  guilty  of  specific  acts  of  immorality.  The 
church  may  properly  act  upon  the  appearance  which 
he  has  chosen  to  give  to  his  conduct. 

The  exclusion  of  a  member.  A  member  of  a 
church  may  be  publicly  reprimanded,  suspended 
for  a  period,  or  excommunicated.  The  common 
form  of  the  vote  of  excommunication  is  expressed 
in  the  words  that  the  church  "  withdraw  fellowship  " 
from  such  a  member.  It  is  a  motion  happily  not 
often  employed,  and  should  be  used,  when  at  all, 
with  prayer  and  tears. 

The  right  of  a  church  to  discipline  its  members. 
The  church  has  an  inherent  right  belonging  to  all 
deliberative  bodies  to  enforce  its  own  laws  and 
punish  offenders  against  them.  It  has  no  power  of 
punishment,  however,  beyond  that  of  exclusion 
from  its  membership.  It  has  no  right  to  establish 
a  boycott  against  the  person's  business,  nor  to  per- 
secute him  in  his  subsequent  efforts  to  establish 
church  relationship  or  to  earn  a  living.  It  has  the 
right,  however,  to  give  official  information  in  re- 
sponse to  inquiries  to  other  churches,  or  to  those 
who  have  a  right  to  know,  for  their  protection,  the 
character  and  history  of  the  man.     A  member  of 


50  A  Baptist  Manual 

3.  church  can  recover  damages  even  when  the  truth 
is  told  against  him,  if  that  truth  is  told  vindictively 
and  without  a  manifest  necessity.  An  official  com- 
munication, however,  from  an  accredited  officer  of 
one  church  to  another  for  its  protection  against  an 
evil-doer  is  privileged,  and  not  subject  to  the  law 
of  Hbel. 

The  lazv  of  libel.  A  man's  reputation  as  a  present 
or  former  member  of  the  church  is  a  very  sacred 
thing,  and  the  courts  will  not  lightly  regard  any  at- 
tempt to  defame  or  persecute  an  excommunicated 
member,  even  though  he  is  guilty.  In  general,  the 
principle  is  that  the  right  of  a  church  to  discipline 
its  members  holds  only  within  the  sphere  of  his 
church-membership.  If  a  church  has  withdrawn 
fellowship  from  a  member,  it  should  not  publish 
the  fact  to  his  harm,  unless  it  is  impelled  to  do  so  for 
its  own  protection,  or  for  the  protection  of  sister 
churches.  It  has  an  inherent  right  to  purge  its 
own  roll  from  unworthy  members,  to  free  its  good 
name  from  the  dishonor  of  their  scandals,  and 
to  protect  other  churches  from  dishonor.  But  it 
has  no  right  to  libel  any  person,  even  with  the 
truth. 

"  A  libel  is  a  malicious  defamation  expressed 
either  by  writing,  or  printing,  or  by  signs,  pictures, 
effigies,  or  the  like,  tending  to  blacken  the  memory 
of  one  who  is  dead,  or  to  impeach  the  honesty,  in- 
tegrity, virtue,  or  reputation,  or  publish  the  natural 
or  alleged  defects  of  one  who  is  alive,  and  there- 


Church  Membership  51 

by  expose  him  to  public  hatred,  contempt,  ridicule, 
or  obloquy;  or  to  cause  him  to  be  shunned  or 
avoided,  or  to  injure  him  in  his  office,  business,  or 
occupation." 

The  above  definition  is  taken  from  the  American 
and  English  Encyclopedia  of  Law,  and  is  attributed 
by  its  author  to  no  single  authority,  but  is  rather 
the  result  of  the  examination  of  many  authorities, 
and  is  believed  to  set  out  all  the  essential  elements 
of  libel. 

At  common  law  in  civil  action  the  truth  of  the 
charge  will  be  a  sufficient  justification  apart  from 
any  question  of  good  faith  or  want  of  malice  on 
the  part  of  the  defendant,  and  independently  of  the 
time  when  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  came  to  the 
defendant. 

But  under  constitutional  or  statutory  provisions 
in  some  jurisdictions  the  defendant  cannot  exempt 
himself  from  liability  for  publishing  a  libel  simply 
by  showing  that  the  charge  was  true,  but  must  go 
further  and  show  that  the  publication  was  made 
under  such  circumstances  as  to  justify  the  con- 
clusions that  he  acted  with  good  motives  and  for 
justifiable  ends.  The  rule  laid  down  under  statute 
in  Massachusetts  is  that  truth  of  libelous  matter 
may  be  given  in  evidence,  and  forms  a  complete  de- 
fense unless  malicious  intention  is  shown,  the  bur- 
den being  on  the  plaintiff  to  show  malice. 

In  Illinois  the  statute  provides  that :  "  In  all 
prosecutions   for  libel,   the  truth,   when  published 


52  A  Baptist  Manual 

with  good  motives,  and  for  justifiable  ends,  shall  be 
a  sufficient  defense." 

The  burden  of  proof  is  upon  the  defendant  to 
estabHsh  the  truth  of  the  charge;  and  matter  of 
justification,  to  be  of  any  avail,  must  meet  and 
answer  the  substance  of  the  libelous  charge.  The 
letter  and  form  of  the  charge  are  not  required,  but 
the  essence  is  indispensable. 


CHAPTER  VII 
The  Baptist  Minister 

IT  is  theoretically  the  right  of  every  church  to 
ordain  its  own  minister,  but  the  minister  so  or- 
dained has  standing  only  in  that  church,  except 
as  other  churches  in  fellowship  may  have  knowl- 
edge of  the  act  and  acknowledge  it  as  authoritative 
and  orderly.  For  the  protection  of  the  churches, 
however,  the  responsibility  of  ordaining  ministers 
is  delegated  to  councils.  The  form  of  the  finding 
of  the  council  is  that  of  recommendation  to  the 
church  to  ordain,  but  in  practice  the  matter  rests 
really  with  the  council. 

Any  church  may  delegate  to  one  of  its  members 
authority  to  administer  baptism  or  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per within  that  church.  Even  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  believes  in  the  right  of  lay  baptism  when 
no  priest  can  be  procured.  In  the  administration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  the  need  has  more  frequently 
arisen,  in  scattered  communities,  that  an  unor- 
dained  person,  acting  for  the  time  as  the  spiritual 
leader  of  the  church,  should  be  empowered  to  ad- 
minister the  ordinances  of  the  church.  The  oc- 
casions for  the  exercise  of  such  power  on  the  part 
of  the  local  body,  however,  are  increasingly  infre- 
E  53 


54  ^  Baptist  Manual 

quent,  and  no  church  should  avail  itself  of  this 
liberty  except  in  extreme  emergencies.  So  far  as 
orderly  Baptist  procedure  is  concerned  we  may  treat 
of  entrance  into  the  ministry  as  a  function  of  the 
church  at  large  through  a  council,  which  the 
churches  call  for  that  purpose. 

The  status  of  the  ordained  minister.  As  a  matter 
of  Baptist  usage,  a  minister  ordained  by  a  local 
church  to  be  its  pastor,  and  having  no  other  rela- 
tion to  the  churches  at  large,  would  have  no  stand- 
ing, ecclesiastical  or  legal,  as  a  minister  outside  that 
church.  It  would  be  a  question  whether  his  name 
would  appear  in  the  "  Year-Book  "  as  a  minister. 
He  would  be,  in  our  theory,  just  what  he  was  in  the 
old  New  England  theory,  a  minister  within  his  own 
church,  but  in  no  other  local  congregation.  The 
Massachusetts  courts,  in  a  test  case  involving  the 
ordination  of  a  Congregational  minister,  decided 
that  such  a  man  is  not  a  minister,  and  is  liable  to  the 
penalty  of  the  law  if  he  performs  a  marriage  service. 

While  the  Baptist  theory  of  ordination  is  not  that 
of  admittance  to  holy  orders,  in  which  the  clergy- 
man is  separated  sacerdotally  from  the  laity,  it  does 
involve  the  idea  of  a  permanent  setting  apart  to  a 
ministry  which  has  relation  to  the  church  of  Christ 
as  a  whole,  and  specifically  to  the  denomination  as  a 
whole.  The  minister  has  relations  at  once  that  are 
wider  than  those  to  the  local  church.  Hence  the 
counsel  of  the  churches  is  sought  in  ordination,  and 
the  act  is  one  of  denominational  significance.     The 


The  Baptist  Minister  55 

customary  form  of  the  finding  of  the  council  is 
that  of  a  recommendation  to  the  church  to  ordain. 
So  the  king  of  Great  Britain  takes  the  advice  of 
his  cabinet  as  to  whether  he  will  approve  a  bill, 
but  usage  has  long  ago  settled  the  question  of  royal 
prerogative.  In  effect,  therefore,  a  man  is  ordained 
to  the  ministry  by  a  council. 

So  further,  the  local  church,  which  can,  of  course, 
terminate  a  pastorate,  cannot  terminate  a  ministry. 
A  minister  may  not  be  deposed  from  the  ministry 
except  by  the  same  careful  and  representative  con- 
sideration that  admitted  him.  Again,  the  finding  of 
a  council  would  take  the  form  of  a  recommenda- 
tion to  the  church  (not  the  church  in  which  he  was 
ordained,  but  that  of  which  he  is  at  the  time  a  mem- 
ber) to  withdraw  his  ordination  papers.  But,  in 
effect,  it  is  the  council  that  deposes  the  minister. 

A  word  should  be  said  regarding  the  minister  who 
voluntarily  leaves  the  ministry  for  a  distinctly  secu- 
lar calling.  The  distinction  between  holy  orders  and 
Baptist  ordination  here  permits  of  a  very  simple 
solution  of  this  practical  problem.  In  ordinary 
cases,  the  man  simply  informally  ceases  to  be  a 
minister.  His  own  good  judgment  should  lead  him 
to  cease  to  use  the  prefix  reverend,  which  is  only, 
in  any  case,  a  traditional  form  preserved  for  con- 
venience among  us,  and  he  should  quietly  with- 
draw his  name  from  published  lists  of  the  ministry. 

The  termination  of  a  pastorate.  That  the  ter- 
mination of  a  pastorate  so  seldom  occasions  trouble 


56  A  baptist  Manual 

in  the  church  is  greatly  to  the  honor  of  the  min- 
istry, and  somewhat  to  the  honor  of  the  churches 
as  well.  For,  while  a  majority  vote  is  necessary 
to  dismiss  a  minister,  still  there  are  few  churches 
in  which  a  small  determined  minority  cannot  force 
a  pastor's  resignation.  Churches  with  practical 
imanimity  spend  their  entire  revenue  and  have  little 
financial  margin  from  year  to  year;  so  that  the 
mere  refusal  of  a  very  few  people  to  continue  their 
support  is  often  sufficient  to  occasion  a  feeling  of 
restiveness  on  the  part  of  those  who  bear  the  finan- 
cial burdens.  It  is  disheartening  to  remember  how 
a  single  sermon  that  offends  a  few  influential  fam- 
ilies may  terminate  a  useful  pastorate,  or  how  a 
single  untactful  act  or  unwise  utterance  on  the  part 
of  the  pastor  may  destroy  the  usefulness  of  a  good 
man  in  the  ministry.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  to  be 
confessed  that  many  churches  have  shown  great 
patience  with  the  infirmities  of  their  ministers. 

When  it  is  apparent  to  a  church  that  the  time  has 
come  for  a  minister  to  resign,  let  the  matter  be 
taken  to  him  kindly  but  plainly,  and  presented  to 
him  by  those  who  love  him.  And  let  the  church 
give  him  time  to  secure  another  pastorate,  and  in 
the  meantime  labor  loyally  with  him. 

In  like  manner  the  minister  should  be  loyal  to  his 
church.  When  the  time  comes  for  him  to  go  else- 
where, he  should  time  his  removal  and  the  notice  of 
it  so  as  least  to  injure  the  church,  and  should  do  all 
things  to  its  edification. 


The  Baptist  Minister  57 

The  legal  value  of  ministerial  reputation.  All 
that  has  been  said  in  the  chapter  on  Church  Mem- 
bership concerning  the  law  of  libel,  applies  with 
special  force  to  the  minister.  In  a  peculiar  sense 
his  reputation  is  his  means  of  livelihood.  To  dam- 
age a  minister's  reputation  is  not  merely  to  hurt  his 
feelings,  but  is  to  incur  the  gravest  responsibility 
by  reason  of  the  financial  damage  which  is  in- 
volved. If  he  has  been  deposed  from  the  ministry 
the  churches  have  a  right  to  know  of  it  for  their 
own  protection ;  but  the  publication  must  be  without 
malice,  and  for  a  manifest  need. 

A  church,  ordinarily,  has  no  right  to  publish  in  a 
wholesale  fashion  its  expulsion  of  a  member.  It 
may  cause  to  be  read  from  its  own  pulpit  the  vote 
of  excommunication,  but  that  vote  should  be  care- 
fully drawn  and  free  from  reckless  denunciation. 
Its  withholding  of  a  letter  of  commendation  is  usu- 
ally a  discharge  of  its  responsibility  to  other 
churches. 

The  case  is  otherwise  when  a  minister  is  deposed. 
While  his  right  has  additional  claims  for  considera- 
tion, because  of  the  legal  value  of  his  reputation, 
the  responsibility  of  the  deposing  body  to  the 
churches  is  correspondingly  greater. 

Among  those  who  have  in  charge  the  official  state- 
ment of  the  status  of  ministers  of  the  various  de- 
nominations it  is  the  general  agreement  that  the 
churches  have  a  right  to  specific  information  in  con- 
nection with  any  trial  to  which  he  may  have  been 


58  A  Baptist  Manual 

subject.  When  a  council  has  deposed  a  minister 
it  has  the  right  to  pubHsh  its  findings.  If  this  were 
not  the  case  the  deposition  would  be  nugatory.  A 
minister  has  a  public  function,  and  his  deposition 
from  the  ministry  is  intended  to  be  an  official  dis- 
continuance of  his  functions. 

Of  course  it  is  important  that  the  greatest  wis- 
dom shall  be  used.  Direct  statements  rather  than 
general  charges  ought  to  be  made.  It  is  fair  that 
definite  statements  concerning  the  acts  for  which 
a  minister  is  deposed  shall  be  made ;  but  it  is  scarcely 
fair,  and  it  is  possibly  not  legally  safe,  to  give  whole- 
sale general  information  as  to  his  character. 

It  is  generally  held  also  that  a  ministerial  bureau 
has  a  right  to  keep  a  list  of  unworthy  men.  This 
is  not  a  black  list.  It  is  official  information  which 
has  been  gathered  under  proper  conditions.  One 
superintendent  of  such  a  bureau  states  the  general 
policy  to  be  as  follows:  ''Information  of  an  un- 
favorable nature,  if  it  must  ever  be  given,  is  given 
only  to  those  who  have  a  clear  official  right  to  its 
possession.  By  *  persons  having  a  clear  official 
right '  we  mean  committees  or  authorized  repre- 
sentatives of  churches  looking  for  pastors,  secre- 
taries, or  superintendents  of  home  mission  so- 
cieties, and  (in  some  cases  a  little  more  doubtful) 
authorized  representatives  of  ecclesiastical  or  min- 
isterial bodies,  having  in  their  keeping  matters  af- 
fecting ministerial  standing." 


CHAPTER  VIII 
Ecclesiastical  Councils 

AN  ecclesiastical  council  is  a  body  composed 
of  representatives  of  a  group  of  churches 
called  together  for  the  consideration  of  a 
specific  matter  set  forth  in  a  letter  missive,  which 
is  the  charter  of  the  council.  As  a  body  destitute 
of  ecclesiastical  authority,  but  thoroughly  repre- 
sentative of  the  judgment  of  neighboring  churches, 
the  council  has  been  rightly  held  in  high  esteem 
in  the  denomination.  It  is  likely  to  continue  as 
an  important  medium  for  the  expression  of  our 
fellowship. 

The  right  to  call  a  council.  A  council  may  be 
called  by: 

1.  A  local  church.  A  local  church  may  call  a 
council  to  recognize  a  newly  organized  church,  to 
ordain  a  minister,  or  to  advise  in  any  case  of  need. 

2.  Two  or  more  churches.  Two  or  more  churches 
may  join  in  calling  a  council  where  they  have  a 
common  interest  in  a  proposed  undertaking,  as  the 
organization  of  a  new  church  lying  between  them. 

A  mother  church,  having  organized  a  mission  or 
branch  church  into  an  independent  church,  may  join 
with  the  latter  in  calling  a  council  of  recognition. 

59 


6o  A  Baptist  Manual 

A  group  of  churches  may  call  a  council  to  deter- 
mine the  wisdom  of  organizing  an  Association,  or 
to  determine  a  boundary  between  Associations,  or 
for  other  suitable  reasons. 

In  cases  where  a  group  of  churches  having  com- 
mon interests  unite  in  calling  a  council,  the  in- 
viting churches  may  desire  to  send  delegates  and 
participate  in  the  deliberations  of  the  council  which 
they  call,  and  this  is  orderly  if  their  intentions  are 
stated  in  the  letter  missive.  In  cases  where  a 
mother  church  and  a  daughter  church  unite  in  the 
call  of  a  council  for  the  recognition  of  the  latter,  the 
mother  church  may  be  entitled  to  representation  in 
the  council  if  the  letter  missive  so  states,  but  in  no 
case  where  two  or  more  churches  unite  in  calling 
a  council  may  either  of  the  inviting  churches  be 
represented  in  the  council  if  the  occasion  for  the 
call  is  any  controversy  between  the  inviting  churches. 

3.  A  church  and  one  or  more  of  its  members.  In 
any  case  where  a  difference  of  opinion  arises  be- 
tween a  church  and  its  minister,  or  the  church  and 
one  or  more  members,  and  the  local  church  has 
found  no  satisfactory  solution  of  the  difficulty,  the 
two  parties  may  unite  in  the  call  of  a  council. 

A  council  called  by  two  parties  having  different 
interests,  which  they  agree  to  arbitrate  before  a 
council,  is  called  a  Mutual  Council.  The  term  is  not 
applied  where  two  parties  are  in  agreement,  as 
where  two  churches  agree  to  organize  a  third  church 
and  unite  in  a  letter  missive. 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  6i 

4.  A  minister  or  other  member  or  group  of  mem- 
bers. A  council  may  be  called  by  a  minister  or 
other  member  or  group  of  members  of  a  church  in 
a  case  where  serious  injustice  is  alleged  to  have  been 
done  by  the  local  church  and  the  church  refuses  to 
make  amends.  Such  a  council  is  called  an  Ex- 
parte  Council,  but  is  never  to  be  called  excepting 
where  a  Mutual  Council  has  been  refused. 

The  method  of  calling  a  council.  A  council  is 
called  by  a  letter  missive  sent  to  each  invited  church 
and  individual,  giving  the  name  of  the  body  inviting 
the  council,  the  place  and  time  of  meeting,  and  sta- 
ting the  precise  business  which  is  to  be  presented 
to  the  body.  It  must  also  give  a  full  list  of  the 
churches  and  individuals  who  are  to  compose  the 
council,  and  should  be  sent  out  a  sufficient  time  in 
advance  to  give  all  the  churches  time  for  official 
action. 

The  number  of  invited  churches.  At  least  all 
the  churches  in  the  Association  should  be  invited  to 
send  delegates.  It  has  sometimes  happened  that  a 
council  has  been  called  consisting  of  only  three  or 
four  churches.  Such  a  body  is  not  a  genuine  coun- 
cil. The  unit  of  denominational  organization  is  the 
Association.  Churches  should  decline  to  participate 
in  a  council  more  narrowly  composed. 

The  advisory  committee  on  councils.  Councils, 
especially  those  called  for  ordination  of  a  candi- 
date or  recognition  of  a  church,  have  often  found 
their  decisions  rendered  nugatory  by  arrangements 


62  A  Baptist  Manual 

for  public  services  to  follow  immediately  upon  the 
meeting  of  the  council.  It  is  difficult  to  refuse 
ordination  to  a  man  when  the  services  have  been 
publicly  announced,  the  ordination  supper  and  re- 
ception prepared,  and  the  relatives  of  the  candidate 
invited  from  afar.  The  practice  is  just  beginning 
to  secure  recognition  that  no  such  services  should 
be  arranged  for  in  advance  of  the  meeting  of  the 
council.  The  Chicago  Association  has  gone  a  step 
farther  in  the  appointment  of  an  advisory  com- 
mittee on  councils,  without  whose  advice  it  is  un- 
derstood that  no  council  shall  be  called.  There  is 
thus  provided  a  preliminary  examination  by  a  group 
of  able  men  of  any  question  that  may  arise.  A  man 
who  ought  not  to  seek  ordination  is  kindly  advised, 
and  is  saved  from  the  public  humiliation  of  refusal 
by  a  council.  A  body  of  Baptists  thinking  of  or- 
ganizing a  church  has  a  committee  whose  judgment 
they  may  seek  before  the  matter  has  gone  too  far  to 
retreat.  This  committee  has  proved  so  useful,  and 
has  been  so  utterly  safe  so  far  as  genuine  Baptist 
independence  is  concerned,  that  the  plan  is  likely  to 
be  more  generally  adopted. 

The  quorum  of  a  council.  A  majority  of  all  the 
invited  churches  is  necessary  to  a  quorum.  A 
church  is  represented  if  it  sends  one  delegate.  The 
custom  of  counting  a  quorum  on  the  basis  of  in- 
dividuals invited  is  indefensible. 

The  organisation  of  a  council.  It  is  customary 
for  the  church  inviting  the  council  either  to  appoint 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  63 

one  of  its  own  members  or  to  select  one  of  the 
visiting  pastors  to  call  the  council  to  order,  to  speak 
a  word  of  welcome,  and  to  say  that  the  church  has 
requested  him  to  read  the  letter  missive. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  reader  of  the  letter  missive 
to  call  for  the  election  of  a  temporary  clerk  and  to 
determine  whether  a  quorum  is  present.  As  this 
usually  involves  the  calling  of  the  roll,  it  is  desirable 
that  the  roll  be  made  up  at  this  time.  As  soon  as  it 
is  determined  that  a  quorum  is  present,  a  permanent 
moderator  is  to  be  elected.  This  may  be  done  by 
ballot,  and  must  be  so  done  if  any  member  demands 
it,  but  a  ballot  need  not  be  insisted  upon  if  there  is 
no  desire  for  it. 

The  moderator.  The  first  duty  of  the  permanent 
moderator  is  to  lead  the  council  in  prayer,  and  while 
the  moderator  may  call  upon  some  other  member  to 
offer  it,  it  is  usual  and  desirable  that  he  himself 
shall  lead  in  this  opening  prayer. 

The  next  duty  of  the  moderator  is  to  call  for 
the  election  of  a  permanent  clerk.  If  the  duties 
of  the  moderator  or  clerk  are  likely  to  be  prolonged 
or  arduous,  the  council  may  elect  an  assistant  to 
either  or  both. 

The  next  duty  of  the  moderator  is  to  call  for 
the  records  relating  to  the  call  of  the  council.  These 
are  to  be  submitted  by  the  clerk  of  the  church,  or 
by  some  officer  representing  the  body  or  bodies 
calling  the  council.  They  should  show  distinctly 
the  business  named  in  the  letter  missive  and  the 


64  A  Baptist  Manual 

authority  to  submit  that  business  to  the  present 
council. 

The  council  being  now  assured  of  its  own  mem- 
bership and  jurisdiction,  the  moderator  will  call  for 
the  particular  business  for  which  the  council  has 
convened,  hearing  from  the  inviting  bodies  through 
the  records,  documents,  and  personal  statements, 
until  the  matter  which  the  council  is  to  determine 
is  fully  set  before  it.  This  should  proceed  in  logical 
order,  and  the  council  may  vote  as  each  part  of  its 
•  investigation  is  completed,  "  that  the  papers  and 
statements  thus  far  be  deemed  satisfactory."  Such 
a  vote,  however,  does  not  determine  the  future  ac- 
tion of  the  council.  It  is  merely  a  vote  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  next  point.  The  business  of  the  coun- 
cil being  fully  before  it,  it  is  customary  to  vote  that 
the  examination  be  arrested  at  this  point,  and  that 
the  council  go  into  executive  session. 

It  is  not  in  good  form  for  members  of  the 
council  to  assume  to  express  the  judgment  of  the 
council  prior  to  this  point,  nor  is  it  orderly  that  the 
roll  be  called  for  individual  expression  before  the 
council  is  in  executive  session.  The  purpose  of  the 
public  session  of  the  council  is  to  get  all  the  facts 
before  the  body  in  the  most  prompt  and  orderly 
manner  possible,  that  these  may  be  considered  in 
private  by  the  members  of  the  council. 

The  moderator  of  the  council  can  greatly  facilitate 
the  work  of  the  body  if  he  has  this  simple  outline 
clearly  in  mind. 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  65 

The  clerk.  It  will  greatly  facilitate  the  work  of 
the  clerk  if,  in  the  preparation  of  writing  materials 
for  his  use,  a  list  of  the  churches  and  individuals 
invited  be  made  out  in  advance  on  sheets  of  the 
same  size  as  those  to  be  used  in  the  records,  and 
with  convenient  spaces  for  the  writing  in  of  the 
names  of  pastors  and  delegates.  Where  this  is  done 
the  clerk  will  have  no  difficulty  in  keeping  his 
records  complete.  Where  this  has  not  been  done  he 
should  be  furnished  an  assistant,  who  will  make  up 
the  roll  while  he  enters  the  complete  record  of  the 
business  as  it  is  transacted. 

There  is  an  erroneous  impression  that  it  is  a  dif- 
ficult thing  for  a  clerk  to  make  his  records  complete 
as  they  are  in  progress.  On  the  contrary,  if  he 
will  insist  that  all  extended  motions  be  reduced  to 
writing,  and  will  procure  at  the  outset  a  correct 
and  legible  roll,  he  will  find  no  difficulty  in  present- 
ing his  minutes  in  good  form  at  the  time  when  they 
are  called  for.  The  clerk  should  not  be  a  member 
of  any  committee. 

The  time  for  the  reading  and  approval  of  the 
records  is  at  the  end  of  the  executive  session  of 
the  council.  The  records  should  be  so  complete 
that  at  this  time  they  can  be  approved,  the  order  of 
public  service  added,  and  only  the  business  incident 
to  the  adjournment  left  to  be  recorded. 

The  executive  session  of  the  council.  When  the 
council  is  in  executive  session  a  motion  should  be 
made  bringing  before  it  for  action  the  business  of 


66  A  Baptist  Manual 

the  council.  It  is  customary  at  this  time  to  call  the 
roll  and  to  permit  each  member  in  voting  to  express 
briefly  his  reason  for  his  vote.  This  is  not  a  time 
for  set  speeches,  but  it  is  the  opportunity  of  the 
members  of  the  council  freely  to  express  their  judg- 
ment of  the  matter  which  has  brought  them  to- 
gether. 

The  council  having  determined  what  it  will  do, 
it  is  customary  to  appoint  a  committee  to  formulate 
its  finding.  If  it  is  a  council  of  ordination,  the  duty 
of  the  committee  will  be  to  confer  with  the  candi- 
date and  representatives  of  the  church  and  report 
an  order  for  the  public  service.  If  it  is  to  advise  in 
a  matter  of  difficulty,  the  duty  of  the  committee 
will  be  to  draft  suitable  resolutions  in  harmony  with 
the  vote  that  has  just  been  passed. 

While  this  committee  is  out  the  council  should 
Usten  to  the  reading  of  its  minutes.  The  report  of 
the  committee,  which  may  be  expected  by  the  time 
the  records  are  read  and  approved,  will  complete 
the  minutes  to  this  point,  and  the  council  may  take 
recess  until  the  public  service,  if  one  is  to  follow, 
or  may  complete  its  work  and  dissolve. 

The  dissolving  of  a  council.  A  Baptist  council 
does  not  commonly  adjourn ;  it  takes  a  recess  from 
one  session  to  another,  and  at  the  close  of  its  busi- 
ness it  dissolves.  It  is  not  orderly  for  a  council  to 
adjourn  and  wait  to  see  whether  its  advice  is  fol- 
lowed, unless  provision  for  such  further  proceeding 
is  contained  in  the  letter  missive.     A  council  in  a 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  67 

case,  which  pubHcly  concluded  its  work,  but  secretly 
agreed  that  if  its  advice  was  not  followed  it  would 
convene  again  and  deal  with  the  matter,  was  dis- 
orderly. 

The  authority  of  a  council.  Strictly  speaking,  the 
council's  finding  has  only  so  much  authority  as 
the  reason  of  it.  Yet  the  result  of  a  council  being 
accepted  by  the  parties  calling  it,  or  agreeing  before- 
hand to  abide  by  it,  has  both  ecclesiastical  and  legal 
value.  The  courts  have  more  than  once  decided  that 
in  matters  which  a  council  is  competent  to  deter- 
mine and  which  it  has  been  agreed  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  it,  and  which  it  has  passed  upon,  its  de- 
cisions will  be  accepted  as  to  facts. 

In  the  case  of  a  minister  who  did  not  wish  to 
resign,  and  whose  church  was  attempting  to  force 
him  out  without  good  reason,  the  decision  of  a 
Mutual  Council  that  the  action  of  the  church  was 
unjustified  would  be  a  legal  justification  on  the 
pastor's  part  for  claiming  his  salary.  A  minister 
has  very  little  protection  in  the  matter  of  the  tenure 
of  his  office,  and  the  decision  of  such  a  council,  as 
has  repeatedly  been  shown,  would  have  great  weight 
with  the  court.  Indeed,  if  the  council  were  con- 
ceded to  be  regular  and  acting  within  its  jurisdic- 
tion, the  court  would  claim  no  right  to  reverse  the 
decision  of  the  council,  or  to  do  otherwise  than  pro- 
tect the  minister  in  the  matter  of  his  salary. 

As  regards  ecclesiastical  authority,  it  is,  of  course, 
universally  conceded  that  the  council  is  only  ad- 


6S  A  Baptist  Manual 

visory.  But  our  churches  have  come  so  to  reahze 
the  great  value  of  the  decision  of  a  Mutual  Coun- 
cil that  in  practice  its  findings  have  the  weight 
of  a  court  of  arbitration. 

Ex-part e  councils.  One  class  of  councils,  and 
that  happily  a  class  somewhat  infrequent,  requires 
a  special  note. 

The  right  to  call  an  Ex-parte  Council  exists 
only  when  every  other  means  of  effecting  a  recon- 
ciliation or  securing  redress  for  a  grievance  has 
failed,  and  when  a  Mutual  Council  has  been  defi- 
nitely refused. 

An  Ex-parte  Council  between  a  church  and  one 
of  its  members  may  only  be  called  when  the  church 
has  damaged  the  relations  of  the  aggrieved  mem- 
ber to  other  churches.  If  the  injury  complained 
of  is  a  purely  local  one,  whose  results  lie  within  the 
local  church,  a  council  cannot  properly  be  called, 
and  must  refuse  to  act.  Other  churches  can  only 
be  consulted  where  the  relations  of  a  member  to 
other  churches  are  concerned.  Thus  a  member  may 
not  call  an  Ex-parte  Council  in  a  case  where  he  has 
been  privately  censured  by  the  church,  but  where 
his  membership  remains  intact,  but  may  call  a  coun- 
cil where  a  letter  has  been  refused  him  and  where 
he  has  been  refused  a  hearing  before  a  Mutual 
Council. 

There  have  been  cases  where  a  minority  of  a 
church  has  felt  so  strongly  that  the  course  of  the 
majority  was  injurious,  that  it  has  called  an  Ex- 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  69 

parte  Council,  and  the  council,  composed  of  promi- 
nent men  has  consented  to  sit.  Such  a  recourse 
should,  however,  be  extremely  rare. 

The  same  principle  applies  to  a  church  calling  an 
Ex-parte  Council  in  case  of  an  alleged  grievance  at 
the  hands  of  an  Association  or  Convention.  The 
council  can  only  act  in  cases  where  the  damage 
is  carried  beyond  the  body  alleged  to  have  done 
the  injury. 

An  Ex-parte  Council,  as  soon  as  organized,  must 
offer  its  services  as  a  Mutual  Council,  and  its  find- 
ings can  have  no  weight  whatever  unless  its  records 
show  that  it  exhausted  every  reasonable  effort  to 
induce  both  parties  to  join  in  the  council. 

May  a  council  increase  its  membership?  The 
common  answer  is  in  the  negative.  Churches 
electing  delegates  to  a  council  have  a  right  to  know 
with  what  other  churches  they  are  to  join,  but  an 
exception  must  be  made  in  cases  where  an  Ex-parte 
Council  is  offering  its  services  as  a  Mutual  Council. 
If  the  other  party  is  willing  to  accept  the  offer  on 
condition  that  certain  churches  of  its  or  his  choosing 
be  added  to  the  council,  and  the  other  party  will  ac- 
cept these  additional  members,  the  Ex-parte  Council, 
in  resolving  itself  into  a  Alutual  Council,  is  fully 
justified  in  making  such  additions  to  its  member- 
ship as  will  enable  it  to  secure  the  consent  of  all 
parties  concerned. 

Individuals  in  a  council.  The  custom  is  increas- 
ingly prevalent  of  inviting  a  considerable  group  of 

F 


70  A  Baptist  Manual 

individual  members  in  addition  to  the  churches  com- 
posing the  council.  This  practice  has  been  dis- 
couraged, yet  it  is  a  custom  not  wholly  without  rea- 
son. But  the  number  of  individuals  ought  not  to 
be  so  large  as  in  any  wise  to  defeat  the  nature 
of  the  council  as  a  body  representative  of  the 
churches.  If  this  principle  is  kept  in  mind  no 
harm  or  abuse  can  follow  the  practice  of  inviting  in- 
dividual members ;  nor  need  it  be  insisted  that  these 
members  be  honorary  members  merely  and  not 
entitled  to  vote.  But  in  case  of  a  serious  division 
of  opinion  in  the  council  affecting  the  welfare  of  the 
churches  themselves,  the  representatives  of  the 
churches  would  have  the  right  to  insist  upon  the 
obligation  which  rests  upon  them  as  such. 

Evidence.  The  question  is  often  raised,  what 
evidence  a  council  may  consider.  What  has  been 
said  regarding  testimony  at  church  trials  is  ap- 
plicable here.  The  council  has  no  power  such  as 
a  court  possesses  to  summon  witnesses  and  place 
them  under  oath.  It  must  be  permitted  to  gather  its 
evidence  from  a  considerably  wider  range  than 
would  be  permissible  in  a  court.  ''  Common  fame  " 
must  be  recognized  as  having  evidential  value  in  a 
council.  A  notorious  scandal  with  plain  implications 
undenied  cannot  be  disregarded  for  lack  of  abso- 
lute legal  proof.  The  council  must  use  the  judg- 
ment of  Christian  charity,  but  it  need  not  consider 
itself  bound  by  such  evidence  only  as  courts  would 
regard. 


Ecclesiastical  Councils  71 

The  question  is  also  raised  whether  parties  to 
a  council  may  be  represented  by  lawyers  or  by 
other  special  advocates.  They  have  that  right.  A 
minister  whose  standing  is  in  question  may  call  to 
his  assistance  either  a  brother  pastor  or  a  legal 
adviser,  and  the  other  party  at  interest  in  the  mat- 
ter may  be  similarly  represented;  but  the  question- 
ings and  arguments  of  these  advocates  must  be  held 
to  respect  the  differences  between  a  church  coun- 
cil and  a  court  of  law,  and  be  in  all  respects 
amenable  to  ecclesiastical  custom  and  to  decorum 
touching  such  matters. 


CHAPTER  IX 
The  Association 

THE  churches  in  association.  Baptists  churches, 
while  self-governing  and  subject  to  no  ec- 
clesiastical authority  in  their  local  affairs,  are 
more  than  independent  units.  They  meet  unitedly 
in  district,  State,  and  national  bodies.  The  de- 
velopment of  these  bodies,  their  approach  to  uni- 
formity of  organization,  and  the  increase  in  the 
measure  of  responsibility  delegated  to  them  by  the 
churches,  constitute  one  of  the  most  significant  facts 
in  recent  Baptist  history. 

Baptist  churches  are  grouped  into  local  or  dis- 
trict Associations,  bodies  which  formerly  existed 
solely  for  fellowship.  Originally  they  were  purely 
voluntary,  but  it  is  no  longer  accurate  to  describe 
them  by  this  term.  A  Baptist  church  has  full  liberty 
to  withhold  itself  from  fellowship  in  an  Association 
and  to  withdraw  from  the  Association  at  its  pleas- 
ure; but  a  church  so  outstanding  or  withdrawn, 
while  Baptistic  in  government,  would  probably  not 
be  reported  in  the  records  of  the  denomination  as 
a  Baptist  church.  It,  therefore,  is  no  longer  strictly 
accurate  to  speak  of  the  Association  as  a  voluntary 
body. 

72 


The  Association  73 

Incorporation.  A  further  step  in  the  development 
of  the  power  of  the  district  Association  is  found 
in  the  fact  that  some  Associations  have  obtained 
legal  incorporation  with  the  right  to  hold  property 
in  the  name  of  the  churches  represented  in  them. 
This  is  an  example  likely  to  be  followed  quite  gen- 
erally, and  will  give  the  churches  through  their 
local  Associations  direct  control  of  local  and  city 
missionary  operations  and  such  other  administrative 
work  as  the  churches  may  care  to  undertake. 

The  organization  of  the  Association.  Any  group  of 
churches  may  organize  an  Association.  The  territory 
represented  in  the  Association  should  be  contiguous 
and  so  bounded  as  to  cover  the  entire  district.  A 
church  situated  on  the  boundary  between  two  As- 
sociations may  elect  which  one  it  will  join,  and 
may,  on  its  own  request,  be  dismissed  from  one 
Association  to  unite  with  another.  No  higher  body 
has  any  right  to  define  the  bounds  of  Associations, 
or  to  declare  what  churches  shall  have  membership 
in  any  Association.  In  general,  all  the  churches  of  a 
common  district  should  be  represented  in  the  same 
Association.  There  is  no  authority  to  compel  this 
arrangement,  however,  and  there  have  been  fre- 
quent exceptions  to  the  rule.  In  case  the  German, 
Scandinavian,  or  Negro  churches  of  a  district  de- 
sire organization  in  a  body  by  themselves,  they 
have  the  right  to  effect  such  an  organization,  even 
though  its  boundaries  overlap  those  of  Associa- 
tions of  other  churches. 


74  ^  Baptist  Manual 

Relations  of  the  Association.  The  Association, 
being  composed  of  churches  in  near  neighborhood, 
is  naturally  a  first  bond  of  fellowship  and  united 
effort.  Shall  the  Associations  be  the  constituent 
parts  of  the  State  Conventions,  or  must  that  body  be 
composed  of  delegates  direct  from  the  churches? 
Emphasis  upon  local  independency  has  resulted  in 
the  latter  procedure.  At  the  same  time  the  reports 
of  the  churches  are  given  by  Associations  in  the 
State  annual,  and  missionary  work  is  carried  on 
with  definite  reference  to  associational  lines.  As 
long  as  the  State  Convention  is  a  body  simply  for 
denominational  efficiency,  and  in  no  sense  legislative 
or  judicial,  its  composition  of  delegates  from  As- 
sociations could  not  be  harmful. 

The  Northern  Baptist  Convention  deliberately 
struck  out  of  its  by-laws  a  provision  for  represen- 
tation from  Associations,  but  retained  that  from 
State  Conventions.  This  was  a  very  significant  ac- 
tion, and  may  lead  to  further  modification  in  the 
membership  of  the  Convention. 

The  relation  of  the  Association  to  City  Mission 
Societies  in  districts  where  the  city  is  almost  co- 
terminous with  the  limits  of  the  Association  has 
not  yet  been  satisfactorily  worked  out.  There  is 
possibility  that  the  City  Mission  Society  may  be- 
come the  effective  body,  the  Association  thus  losing 
much  of  its  significance. 


CHAPTER  X 
The  Metropolitan  Executive  Council 

THE  great  needs  of  evangelization  in  the  larger 
cities  of  the  country  have  called  for  organ- 
ization for  the  purpose  of  directing  missionary 
v^ork.  City  Mission  Societies  have  thus  existed  for 
a  long  time  in  most  of  our  large  cities.  In  the  more 
important  metropolitan  centers  there  are  often  as 
many  missionary  churches  as  are  under  the  charge 
of  a  Western  State  Convention.  These  City  Mis- 
sion Societies  were  formed  purely  for  the  practical 
conduct  of  missionary  work.  There  was  no  thought 
of  their  being  representative  of  the  churches  in  any- 
thing but  this  practical  sense.  Indeed,  such  so- 
cieties are  often  merely  a  Board  of  directors.  They 
are  held  to  discharge  their  functions  sufficiently  if 
they  have  an  effective  control  of  the  development 
of  the  Baptist  mission  churches  in  the  city. 

The  need  of  metropolitan  organization.  But  our 
large  metropolitan  centers  are  coming  to  realize  that 
the  many  denominational  interests  at  stake  are  very 
important.  The  whole  city  needs  to  be  studied. 
The  progress  and  movement  of  self-supporting 
churches  must  be  understood.  The  character  and 
needs  of  foreign  populations  must  be  carefully  con- 

75 


y(i  A  Baptist  Manual 

sidered.  The  evangelization  of  a  large  city  is, 
therefore,  a  very  complicated  undertaking.  In  ad- 
dition to  that  there  are  numerous  philanthropic 
enterprises  under  the  denominational  name  which 
ought  to  have  some  supervision  of  the  churches. 
It  has  been  customary  for  small  bodies  of  enthu- 
siastic people  to  establish,  whenever  they  thought 
it  desirable,  philanthropies  to  which  they  would  at- 
tach the  name  of  Baptist,  and  on  the  strength  of 
that  name  appeal  to  the  denomination  for  sup- 
port. Such  philanthropies  readily  fall  into  three 
classes — the  good,  the  bad,  and  the  indifferent. 

It  is  clear  that  a  City  Mission  Society  as  such 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  these  benevolent 
organizations  or  with  the  work  of  the  denomina- 
tion as  a  whole.  It  has  become,  therefore,  in- 
creasingly evident  that  there  should  be  a  delegated 
body  with  large  powers  of  supervision  and  admin- 
istration. These  powers  could  not  in  any  w^se  be 
exercised  over  the  churches.  They  would  not  in- 
clude the  right  to  make  expression  on  matters  of 
doctrine,  nor  take  action  in  cases  of  discipline.  The 
independency  of  every  church  would  be  unimpaired. 
But  the  churches  as  a  whole  ought  to  be  able  to 
express  themselves  upon  matters  of  general  interest 
in  the  city,  upon  questions  of  denominational  policy, 
and  they  ought  to  have  a  means  of  massing  their 
forces  for  forward  movement  in  all  directions. 

The  relation  of  the  metropolitan  organisation  to 
the  Association.     Shall  this  executive  organization 


The  Metropolitan  Executive  Council      yy 

be  the  Association?  The  difficulty  is  that  the  As- 
sociation covers  generally  a  larger  territory  than 
the  city.  Furthermore,  the  Association  is  tradition- 
ally so  different  a  body  from  this  needed  metro- 
politan executive  organization  that  there  is  a  seri- 
ous question  whether  it  can  be,  or  ought  to  be, 
adapted  to  this  new  need.  It  is  possible  that  it  can 
be  so.  Just  as  the  city  of  London  has  become  a 
county  with  the  same  county  government  that  ob- 
tains in  the  rest  of  the  kingdom,  so  a  large  city 
might  be  an  Association.  It  is  more  likely,  how- 
ever, that  the  City  Mission  Society  will  develop 
its  charter  and  its  functions.  This  has  perhaps  been 
more  definitely  done  in  the  city  of  Chicago  than 
elsewhere  in  the  country.  The  Baptist  Executive 
Council  of  Chicago  includes  regularly  appointed 
delegates  from  the  churches  in  the  Chicago  Asso- 
ciation. It  is,  however,  quite  distinct  from  the 
^Association.  The  by-laws  of  this  organization  may 
indicate  the  trend  in  our  metropolitan  Baptist  polity. 

BY-LAWS  of  the  BAPTIST  EXECUTIVE 
COUNCIL  of  CHICAGO 

Adopted  September  25,  1908 

ARTICLE  I 

The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be  "  Baptist  Execu- 
tive Council  of  Chicago,"  and  its  principal  place  of  busi- 
ness shall  be  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  county  of  Cook,  and 
State  of  Illinois. 


y^  A  Baptist  Manual 

ARTICLE  II 

The  objects  for  which  the  Council  is  formed  are  to 
organize,  establish,  maintain,  promote,  and  preserve,  and 
to  aid  in  organizing,  establishing,  maintaining,  promoting, 
and  preserving  Baptist  churches  and  missions,  and  edu- 
cational, benevolent,  and  charitable  institutions  in  the  city 
of  Chicago  and  vicinity;  and  to  take,  purchase,  hold,  and 
dispose  of  real  and  personal  estate  for  religious,  missionary, 
educational,  benevolent,  and  charitable  purposes.  Provided 
that  the  Council  shall  have  no  power  to  levy  assessments 
upon  the  churches  represented  therein,  and  shall  have  no 
power  to  control  or  interfere  with,  or  have  original  or 
appellate  jurisdiction  of  the  government,  discipline,  or  other 
spiritual  or  temporal  affairs  of  any  individual  church 
represented  in  the  Council,  without  the  consent  of  such 
church  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a 
special  business  meeting  of  such  church  regularly  called 
for   that  purpose. 

ARTICLE  III 

The  members  of  this  Council  shall  consist  of  the  pas- 
tor of  each  of  the  Baptist  churches  now  forming  the 
Chicago  Baptist  Association,  and  of  such  other  churches 
from  time  to  time  as  may  be  approved  by  the  Council, 
and  in  addition  thereto,  one  lay  member  where  the  mem- 
bership of  such  church  does  not  exceed  two  hundred 
(200),  two  members  where  the  membership  is  more  than 
two  hundred  (200),  and  less  than  five  hundred  (500), 
and  one  additional  member  for  each  additional  five  hun- 
dred (500)  of  membership  or  fraction  thereof;  and  in  ad- 
dition thereto  one  representative  from  each  of  the  recog- 
nized Baptist  institutions  and  organizations  in  the  city  of 
Chicago  and  vicinity.  There  shall  also  be  elected  at  each 
annual  meeting  of  the  Council  fifteen  other  persons,  who 
shall  constitute  members  at  large  of  this   Council.     The 


The  Metropolitan  Executive  Council      79 

member  or  members  from  each  church,  except  the  mem- 
bers at  large,  shall  be  chosen  by  such  church  before  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Council  and  the  names  of  all  such 
duly  certified  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Council  before  such 
annual  meeting,  and  in  case  of  failure  on  the  part  of  any 
such  church  either  to  choose  such  member  or  members, 
or  to  certify  the  name  or  names  of  the  same  to  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Council  before  such  annual  meeting,  the  mem- 
ber or  members  from  such  church  may  be  elected  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  members  of  the  Council  at  such 
annual  meeting.  The  members  of  the  Council  shall  serve 
one  year  and  until  their  successors  are  duly  elected  and 
qualified,  and  all  vacancies  in  the  membership  shall  be 
filled  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  IV 

The  general  management  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  Coun- 
cil shall  be  vested  in  the  board  of  fifty  (50)  directors,  all 
of  whom  shall  be  members  of  the  Council  and  elected  for 
one  year  by  ballot  and  a  majority  vote. 

ARTICLE  V 

The  officers  of  this  Council  shall  be  a  President,  Vice- 
president,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  each  of  whom  shall 
be  elected  from  the  Board  of  Directors  by  ballot  by  a 
majority  vote  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
after  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Council.  They  shall  hold 
their  office  for  the  term  of  one  year,  or  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  duly  elected  and  qualified.  The  Board  shall 
also  appoint  its  own  attorney  to  take  charge  of  all  legal 
matters  pertaining  to  the  Council. 

ARTICLE  VI 

The  regular  meeting  of  the  Council  shall  be  held  on  the 
last  Friday  in  September  of  each  year.     Special  meetings 


8o  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  the  Council  may  be  held  at  any  time  upon  the  call  of  the 
President,  or  three  directors,  or  upon  written  request  of  ten 
members  of  the  Council.  Notice  of  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Council,  stating  the  date,  place,  and  hour  of  meeting 
shall  be  duly  mailed  by  the  Secretary  to  the  address  of  each 
member  of  the  Council  at  least  ten  days  before  such  annual 
meeting,  and  like  notice  of  special  meetings  stating  the 
business  to  be  transacted  shall  be  mailed  at  least  three 
days  before  such  special  meetings.  Notice  for  the  annual 
meetings  of  the  Council  shall  be  accompanied  by  blank 
forms  of  proxy  for  the  use  of  members  not  able  to 
attend  the  meeting  so  called,  and  at  any  annual  or  special 
meeting  of  the  Council  any  member  may  take  part  and 
vote  either  in  person  or  by  proxy.  Thirty  members  shall 
constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business  at 
any  annual  or  special  meeting  of  the  Council.  Regular 
meetings  of  the  Council  shall  be  held  each  month  at  such 
time  and  place  as  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  from  time 
to  time  determine.  At  all  meetings  of  the  Council  the 
Council  shall  have  all  the  powers  and  functions  of  the 
Board. 

ARTICLE  VII 

The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the 
Council  and  Board  of  Directors;  supervise  the  afifairs 
of  said  Council,  and  execute  all  deeds,  contracts,  and  other 
documents  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Directors ;  appoint 
all  special  committees,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  the 
Board  of  Directors,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as 
the  Board  of  Directors  may  from  time  to  time  direct.  In 
the  absence  of  the  President  or  in  case  of  his  inability  to 
act,  the  Vice-president  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the 
President. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  in  a  book  to  be  prepared  for 
the  purpose   a   full   and  complete   record  of   all  meetings 


The  Metropolitan  Executive  Council      8i 

of  the  Council  and  Board  of  Directors,  and  give  notice 
of  all  meetings  of  the  Council  and  Board;  he  shall  have 
the  custody  of  all  the  books,  papers,  documents,  and 
the  seal  of  the  Council ;  when  directed  and  empowered  so 
to  do  by  the  Board,  he  shall  sign  or  attest  all  contracts, 
deeds,  and  documents,  and  attach  the  seal  of  the  Coun- 
cil to  such  as  may  require  it;  he  shall  keep  a  book  in  which 
shall  be  put  down  the  name  and  address  of  each  member 
of  the  Council,  and  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as 
may  be  required  of  him  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  IX 

The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  the  moneys  of  the  Coun- 
cil, and  immediately  deposit  the  same  in  such  bank  as 
the  Board  of  Directors  shall  from  time  to  time  designate, 
to  the  credit  of  the  Council;  he  shall  pay  out  moneys  only 
upon  vouchers  signed  by  the  President  or  Vice-president, 
and  not  otherwise  than  by  check  upon  the  bank  where 
such  voucher  is  for  ten  dollars  ($io)  or  more ;  he  shall 
keep  a  full  and  true  account  of  all  moneys  of  the  Council 
received  and  paid  out  in  a  book  belonging  to  said  Coun- 
cil ;  he  shall  make  a  written  itemized  report  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  at  each  regular  meeting  of  the  Board,  and  at 
its  special  meetings  when  requested  so  to  do,  of  all  moneys 
received  and  paid  out,  and  shall  make  out  and  submit  to 
the  Council  at  its  annual  meeting  each  year  a  report  of  all 
receipts  and  disbursements  during  the  year,  which  report 
shall  be  first  examined  and  audited  by  an  auditor  to  be 
appointed  from  time  to  time  by  the  Board.  The  Treasurer 
may,  in  the  discretion  of  the  Board,  be  required  to  give 
bonds. 

ARTICLE  X 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  its  regular  meetings 
upon  the   last   Friday   in   each   month,   at   such   time   and 


82  A  Baptist  Manual 

place  as  it  may  by  resolution  from  time  to  time  designate. 
Twenty  members  of  the  Board  shall  constitute  a  quorum 
for  the  transaction  of  business.  Special  meetings  of  the 
Board  may  be  called  at  any  time  by  the  President  or  by 
three  members  of  the  Board.  Notice  of  all  meetings  of  the 
Board,  stating  date,  place,  and  hour  of  meeting,  shall  be 
given  by  duly  mailing  such  notice  to  the  address  of  each 
director,  or  delivering  the  same  to  him  in  person  at  least 
two  days  before  such  meeting;  provided,  however,  that 
when  all  the  members  of  the  Board  are  present  at  any 
special  meeting,  however  called  or  whenever  held,  the  ac- 
tion taken  at  such  meeting  shall  be  valid  and  binding. 

ARTICLE  XI 

Whenever  any  church  or  other  organization  or  corpora- 
tion shall  duly  convey  its  property  to  this  Council  in 
furtherance  of  the  purposes  for  which  the  Council  is  in- 
corporated, such  church  or  other  organization  or  corpora- 
tion shall  thereupon  and  thereby  be  entitled  to  elect  an- 
nually so  long  as  its  property  shall  be  under  the  control 
of  the  Council,  two  representatives  to  meet  with  the  Board 
of  Directors  in  an  advisory  capacity,  and  to  take  part  in 
all  deliberations  of  the  Board,  but  without  power  to  vote. 

ARTICLE  XII 

The  Board  of  Directors  may  appoint  from  its  own  mem- 
bers each  year  such  standing  committees  as  it  shall  deem 
best. 

ARTICLE  XIII 

This  Council  shall  have  and  use  a  common  seal,  con- 
taining in  a  circle  the  words,  "  Baptist  Executive  Coun- 
cil of  Chicago — 1908 — Seal."  Such  seal  is  hereby  adopted 
as  its  common  seal,  an  impression  of  which  is  made  in 
the  margin  hereof. 


The  Metropolitan  Executive  Council      83 

ARTICLE  XIV 

The  order  of  business  at  all  regular  meetings  of  the 
Council  shall  be  as  follows : 

1.  Prayer. 

2.  Reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting. 

3.  Unfinished  business. 

4.  Reports   of   officers. 

5.  Reports  of  committees. 

6.  New  business. 

7.  Election  of  officers. 

8.  Adjournment. 

ARTICLE  XV 

These  by-laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  any  regu- 
lar or  special  meeting  of  the  Council  by  a  majority  vote 
of  the  members  present.  Provided  at  least  three  days' 
prior  written  notice,  stating  the  date,  place,  and  hour  of 
meeting,  and  the  proposed  change  or  amendment  shall  be 
given  by  mailing  such  notice  to  each  member  of  the 
Council. 


CHAPTER  XI 

The  State  Convention 

OUR  most  significant  metropolitan  work  is  car- 
ried on  in  only  a  few  great  centers.  The 
largest  part  of  our  mission  work  is  that 
undertaken  by  the  State  Conventions.  In  the  West 
this  is  carried  on  in  co-operation  with  the  Home 
Mission  Society,  but  it  is  under  the  direction  of  the 
State  Convention,  and  from  the  standpoint  of  our 
Baptist  polity  the  State  Convention  is  the  significant 
body.  Indeed,  it  may  be  said  that  the  State  Con- 
vention is  one  of  the  great  significant  organizations 
of  the  denomination.  In  its  origin  it  is  practically 
an  extension  of  the  Association.  The  Association 
was  a  voluntary  gathering  of  messengers  of  the 
churches  from  a  small  district.  The  General  Asso- 
ciation, as  the  State  body  was  usually  called,  was  a 
similar  body  on  a  scale  of  State  extent.  But  the 
State  Conventions  have  been  growing  in  importance. 
Our  denominational  consciousness  has  developed 
in  the  State  Conventions.  The  efficiency  of  these 
bodies  has  made  possible  the  organization  of  the 
larger  national  body. 

yi  delegated  body.     The  State  Conventions  are 
generally  composed  of  messengers  or  delegates  from 

84 


The  State  Convention  85 

the  churches  and  from  contributing  Associations. 
They  also  almost  always  include  in  their  member- 
ship annual  and  life  members  constituted  on  the 
payment  of  a  certain  contribution.  They  are  not, 
therefore,  strictly  delegated  bodies.  The  question 
is  under  serious  consideration  in  many  of  the  State 
Conventions  whether  the  definite  denominational 
character  of  these  important  bodies  should  not  re- 
quire a  more  strict  limitation  to  the  delegated  mem- 
bership. It  is  too  early  to  say  what  will  be  the  out- 
come of  this  discussion. 

Representative  of  the  denomination.  The  State 
Conventions  have  long  ceased  to  be  merely  volun- 
tary missionary  organizations  for  the  assistance  of 
weak  churches.  There  are  in  every  State  important 
denominational  institutions,  educational  and  philan- 
thropic. These  are  generally  organized  by  the 
voluntary  efforts  of  individuals,  but  they  take  the 
denominational  name,  and  appeal  on  the  ground  of 
loyalty  for  denominational  support.  The  churches 
should  have  some  supervision  of  such  bodies.  The 
natural  agency  for  investigation  and  supervision  is 
the  State  Convention.  To  a  larger  and  larger  ex- 
tent our  State  Conventions  are  assuming  the  right 
to  speak  for  the  denomination  within  the  State. 
There  has  in  no  case  been,  and  it  may  safely  be  said 
there  never  will  be,  any  disposition  to  interfere 
in  matters  that  belong  to  the  individual  churches 
as  such.  There  has  been,  and  to  a  larger  extent  will 
be,  a  willingness  to  meet   the  reasonable   demand 

G 


86  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  the  churches  that  their  delegates  shall  represent 
them  effectively  in  speaking  their  mind  upon  im- 
portant matters  of  denominational,  social,  and  polit- 
ical concern. 

Conservator  of  denominational  interests.  The 
State  Convention  thus  becomes  the  conservator 
of  denominational  interests.  It  has  long  exer- 
cised that  function  toward  many  worthy  educational 
interests.  There  are  colleges  and  academies  in 
many  of  our  States  which  owe  their  present  health- 
ful existence  to  the  efforts  of  the  State  Convention. 
Our  growing  denominational  consciousness  will  for- 
tify the  Conventions  in  exercising  this  conserving 
influence  over  all  institutions  that  are  worthy  of 
support,  as  also  in  discouraging  those  institutions 
which  ought  not  to  continue. 

Relation  to  the  Northern  Baptist  Convention. 
The  Southern  Baptist  Convention  includes  in  its 
membership  messengers  from  Associations,  but  not 
from  Conventions.  The  Northern  Baptist  Conven- 
tion decided  upon  the  opposite  course.  The  trend 
in  our  polity  is  very  clearly  seen.  The  church,  the 
Association,  the  State  Convention,  the  national  Con- 
vention are  the  grades  through  which  we  shall  carry 
on  our  work.  The  church  will  always  be  absolutely 
independent.  These  other  organizations  will  be  ad- 
visory and  executive,  but  their  largest  effectiveness 
requires  that  they  should  have  this  relation  toward 
each  other.  We  say  this  seems  to  be  the  trend. 
The  relation,  however,  between  the  State  Conven- 


The  State  Convention  87 

tlons  and  the  Northern  Baptist  Convention  has  not 
yet  been  worked  out.  Some  of  the  ablest  men  in 
the  State  and  national  work  are  giving  the  matter 
their  most  serious  attention.  There  is  very  much 
more  involved  than  the  mere  question  whether  dele- 
gates shall  be  appointed  by  the  one  body  to  the 
other.  The  unification  of  denominational  work  with- 
in the  State  is  the  important  matter.  At  present 
it  is  possible  for  half  a  dozen  missionary  organiza- 
tions to  be  carrying  on  work  within  a  given  State, 
nobody  having  any  right  of  supervision  over  the 
whole  enterprise. 

The  State  superintendent  of  missions.  An  official 
who  is  coming  to  have  increasing  significance  is 
the  State  superintendent  of  missions.  Formerly 
he  had  simply  in  charge  the  supervision  of  the 
missionary  churches.  He  is  now  coming  into  rela- 
tion with  all  denominational  interests.  As  the 
State  Convention  is  becoming  representative  of  the 
churches  in  their  larger  concern  with  all  denom- 
inational enterprises  and  institutions,  the  superin- 
tendent needs  to  be  a  man  of  statesmanship  and  of 
large  executive  power.  He  will  not  be  a  diocesan 
bishop,  but  he  will  be  the  executive  of  the  State 
Board;  and  his  good  advice  to  the  Board,  to  the 
missionary  churches,  and  to  denominational  in- 
terests will  always  be  his  greatest  value. 

The  pastor-at-large.  A  new  officer,  first  ap- 
pointed by  the  South  Dakota  State  Convention,  is 
the  pastor-at-large.    His  work  is  not  altogether  un- 


88  A  Baptist  Manual 

like  that  of  the  district  missionary,  yet  it  is  more 
distinctly  pastoral.  He  becomes  the  acting  pastor 
of  the  pastorless  mission  churches.  The  State  Con- 
vention feels  that  it  has  a  right  to  exercise  this 
oversight,  though,  of  course,  it  is  always  done  with 
the  consent  of  the  churches.  The  small  churches 
often  lose  in  a  few  months  all  that  was  gained  in 
years.  They  are  also  peculiarly  liable  to  be  vic- 
timized by  unworthy  ministers,  whom  they  are  un- 
able to  detect.  The  pastor-at-large,  taking  charge 
immediately  upon  the  removal  of  the  pastor,  secures 
the  church  from  retrogression,  and  guides  in  the 
selection  of  a  worthy  man  to  take  up  the  work. 


CHAPTER  XII 
The  Northern  Baptist  Convention 

THE  three  great  Baptist  Societies  have  been  ac- 
customed for  many  years  to  hold  their  annual 
meetings  at  the  same  place  and  at  the  same 
general  time.  These  gatherings,  commonly  called 
"  The  Anniversaries,"  or  "  The  May  Meetings,"  af- 
forded a  certain  opportunity  of  denominational  self- 
expression.  Yet  such  expression  was  of  necessity 
inadequate.  A  general  resolution  had  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  three  different  bodies  before  it  could 
have  any  denominational  status.  The  meetings  were 
those  of  independent  societies.  There  was  no  meet- 
ing of  the  Baptists  as  a  body. 

The  organization  of  the  Convention.  The  South- 
ern churches  had  a  far  more  effective  organization 
in  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  And  a  grow- 
ing feeling  developed  in  the  North  for  a  somewhat 
similar  organization.  For  several  years  joint  com- 
mittees struggled  with  the  problem,  and  there  was 
wide  discussion.  Some  felt  afraid  that  the  inde- 
pendency of  the  churches  might  be  endangered. 
But  the  desire  for  effectiveness  prevailed,  and  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  in  1907,  the  "  Northern  Bap- 
tist Convention  "  was  tentatively  established.    Com- 

89 


90  A  Baptist  Manual 

plete  organization  was  finally  effected  at  Chicago 
in  1910. 

There  still  remain  some  details  of  procedure  to 
work  out,  but  the  denomination  has  now  a  definite 
organization,  and  has  practical  denominational  con- 
trol of  all  its  missionary  and  publication  activities. 
The  basis  of  representation  is  clearly  unsatisfactory, 
and  is  only  workable  because  so  large  a  number  of 
the  churches  do  not  send  delegates.  The  Law  Com- 
mittee reported  upon  this  matter  as  follows: 

The  proposed  amendments  to  the  by-laws  of  the  Con- 
vention, offered  at  the  last  annual  meeting  and  referred 
to  the  committee,  have  been  duly  considered  and  so  far  as 
they  have  been  approved  they  are  incorporated  in  the 
preceding  by-laws.  The  by-laws  relating  to  membership  in 
the  Convention  are  substantially  the  provisions  in  its  con- 
stitution. They  provide  for  a  membership  too  large  for 
any  deliberative  assembly.  If  one  delegate  from  one-half 
of  the  Baptist  churches  authorized  to  send  delegates  should 
attend  a  meeting  of  the  Convention,  there  would  be  a 
gathering  of  over  five  thousand.  However  inspiring  such 
a  gathering  of  Baptist  men  and  w^omen  might  be,  it  would 
not  be  practicable  to  make  it  a  deliberative  body,  or  one  to 
which,  because  of  its  numbers,  could  be  safely  committed 
the  discussion  and  settlement  of  the  many  serious  ques- 
tions that  it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Convention  to  decide. 
If  the  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  the  Convention  shall 
increase  so  that  it  shall  be  much  in  excess  of  the  numbers 
that  have  attended,  the  necessity  will  arise  for  an  amend- 
ment of  these  by-laws  which  will  change  the  units  of 
representation. 

This  will  doubtless  be  worked  out  gradually  as 
occasion  shall  require. 


The  Northern  Baptist  Convention        91 

The  Convention  is  so  insistent  that  there  shall  be 
no  violation  of  essential  Baptist  polity  that,  in  pro- 
ceeding to  incorporation,  it  reaffirmed  the  declara- 
tion made  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1907,  as  follows: 

DECLARATION 

The  Northern  Baptist  Convention  declares  its  belief  in 
the  independence  of  the  local  church,  and  in  the  purely 
advisory  nature  of  all  denominational  organizations  com- 
posed of  representatives  of  churches.  It  believes  also 
that  in  view  of  the  growth  of  the  Baptist  denomination 
and  its  extension  throughout  our  country  there  is  need 
for  an  organization  to  serve  the  common  interests  of  the 
entire  denomination  as  State  and  district  organizations 
serve  their  respective  constituencies. 

The  act  of  incorporation.  Incorporation  was  ef- 
fected in  the  State  of  New  York,  June  8,  1910,  by  a 
special  act,  which,  very  appropriately,  was  signed 
by  Gov.  Charles  E.  Hughes,  who  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Convention. 

AN  ACT  TO  INCORPORATE  THE 

NORTHERN   BAPTIST 

CONVENTION 

Section  i.  All  persons  who  now  are  or  who  hereafter 
may  become  members  of  the  organization  called  the  North- 
ern Baptist  Convention,  formed  in  the  city  of  Washington, 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  in  the  year  1907,  are  hereby 
constituted  a  body  corporate  with  the  name  "  Northern 
Baptist  Convention,"  and  under  that  name  shall  have  per- 
petual  succession,   and   shall   have  the   right  to   purchase 


92  A  Baptist  Manual 

or  to  acquire  by  gift,  devise,  bequest,  or  otherwise,  and  to 
sell,  convey,  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  real  or  personal 
property. 

Section  2.  The  objects  of  the  corporation  shall  be  to 
give  expression  to  the  opinions  of  its  constituency  upon 
moral,  religious,  and  denominational  matters,  and  to  pro- 
mote denominational  unity  and  efficiency  in  efforts  for 
the  evangelization  of  the  world. 

Section  3.  The  corporation  at  any  time  it  shall  determine 
so  to  do,  may  elect  or  appoint  such  officers  and  may  adopt 
such  by-laws  or  regulations  in  relation  to  its  organiza- 
tion, to  the  management,  disposition,  and  sale  of  its  real 
or  personal  property,  to  the  duties  and  powers  of  its 
officers,  and  to  the  management  and  conduct  of  its  cor- 
porate business  and  affairs  as  it  shall  think  proper,  pro- 
vided such  by-laws  or  regulations  are  not  inconsistent  with 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  or  of  this  State. 

Section  4.  Meetings  of  the  corporation  may  be  held  at 
such  time  or  times  and  at  such  place  or  places  in  the 
United  States  as  the  corporation  may  determine  from 
time  to  time. 

Section  5.    This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

BY-LAWS 

ARTICLE  I 

MEMBERSHIP 

Section  i.  The  Convention  shall  be  composed  of  ac- 
credited delegates  appointed  as  follows: 

(a)  Any  Baptist  church  in  the  United  States  may  ap- 
point one  delegate,  and  one  additional  delegate  for  every 
one  hundred  members. 

(b)  Any  Baptist  State  Convention  may  appoint  ten 
delegates,  and  one  additional  delegate  for  every  ten  Dis- 
trict Associations  included  in  it,  above  the  first  ten. 


The  Northern  Baptist  Convention        93 

Section  2.  Accredited  officers  and  members  of  Boards 
of  Managers  of  co-operating  organizations  shall  be  dele- 
gates ex  officiis. 

The  accredited  officers  and  members  of  the  Boards  of 
Managers  of  the  Women's  Missionary  Societies  auxiliary 
to  or  co-operating  with  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis- 
sion Society  or  the  American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission 
Society  shall  be  delegates  ex  officiis. 

ARTICLE  II 

OFFICERS 

Section  i.  The  officers  shall  be  a  President,  a  First 
Vice-president,  a  Second  Vice-president,  a  Corresponding 
Secretary,  a  Recording  Secretary,  and  a  Treasurer. 

Section  2.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of 
the  Convention  and  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  shall 
exercise  a  general  supervision  over  the  affairs  of  the  Con- 
vention. 

Section  3.  In  the  case  of  the  absence  of  the  President  or 
his  inability  to  serve,  his  duties  shall  be  performed  by  the 
Vice-president  in  attendance  who  is  first  in  numerical  order. 

Section  4.  The  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  conduct 
the  correspondence  of  the  Convention,  shall  send  notices  to 
the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  times  and 
places  of  its  meetings,  shall  inform  the  chairman  of  each 
committee  of  the  names  of  its  members  and  of  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  appointed,  and  shall  perform  such 
duties  as  the  Executive  Committee  may  direct. 

Section  5.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose. 

Section  6.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  be- 
longing to  the  Convention,  keep  an  accurate  account  there- 
of, and  of  the  sources  from  which  they  were  derived,  pay 
them  out  on   the  direction   of  the   Convention   or  of   the 


94     '  ^  Baptist  Manual 

Executive  Committee,  and  at  each  annual  meeting  make  a 
written  financial  report. 

Section  7.  Each  officer  shall  serve  from  the  close  of  the 
meeting  of  the  Convention  at  which  he  is  elected  to  the 
close  of  the  next  annual  meeting,  and  until  his  successor 
is  elected. 

Section  8.  Any  member  of  a  Baptist  church  in  the 
United  States  is  eligible  to  any  office  or  to  serve  on  any 
committee,  except  where  otherwise  provided. 

ARTICLE  III 

MEETINGS 

Section  i.  The  Convention  shall  meet  annually  on  the 
third  Wednesday  in  May,  unless  for  some  special  reason 
some  other  time  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee in  conference  with  the  Boards  of  ]\Ianagers  of  the 
co-operating  organizations.  , 

ARTICLE  IV 

COMMITTEES 

Section  i.  (a)  There  shall  be  an  Executive  Committee 
composed  of  the  officers  and  former  Presidents  of  the 
Convention  and  thirty  others,  of  whom  at  least  fifteen 
shall  be  laymen.  Of  the  thirty  first  elected,  ten  shall  serve 
for  three  years,  ten  for  two  years,  and  ten  for  one  year; 
and  thereafter  there  shall  be  elected  annually  ten  to  serve 
for  three  years.  Vacancies  caused  by  death,  resignation,  or 
refusal  to  act  of  any  of  the  thirty  may  be  filled  by  the  re- 
maining members  of  the  Committee. 

(b)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  the  meetings  of  the  Convention;  to  report 
to  it  annually  in  writing,  and  to  care  for  its  interests  be- 
tween the  meetings. 

(c)  No  appeals  for  money  shall  be  made  and  no  collec- 
tions shall  be  taken  at  the  meetings  of  the  Convention 
which  have  not  been  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee. 


The  Northern  Baptist  Convention        95 

Section  2.  (a)  There  shall  be  a  Finance  Committee  of 
nine,  a  majority  of  whom  shall  be  laymen.  Of  the  nine 
persons  first  appointed,  three  shall  serve  for  three  years, 
three  for  two  years,  and  three  for  one  year ;  and  thereafter 
there  shall  be  appointed  annually  three  to  serve  for  a  term 
of  three  years. 

(b)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  prepare 
and  present  to  the  Convention  at  each  annual  meeting  a 
budget  based  on  the  budgets  submitted  by  the  Executive 
Committee  and  by  the  co-operating  organizations. 

(c)  In  case  of  an  emergency  arising  between  the  annual 
meetings  of  the  Convention,  the  Committee,  by  the  ma- 
jority vote  of  all  its  members,  may  approve  the  incurring 
of  indebtedness  by  a  co-operating  organization.  Should 
such  approval  be  given,  the  Committee  shall  report  its 
action  with  the  reasons  therefor  to  the  Convention  at  its 
next  annual  meeting. 

Section  3.  (a)  There  shall  be  an  Apportionment  Com- 
mittee appointed  at  each  annual  meeting.  It  shall  be 
composed  of  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  a 
representative  of  each  of  the  other  organizations,  for  the 
maintenance  of  whose  work  provision  is  directly  made  in 
the  budget. 

(b)   It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee: 

1.  To  divide  among  the  States  represented  in  the  Con- 
vention the  respective  amounts  to  be  raised  as  specified 
in  the  budget  approved  by  the  Convention,  and  to  com- 
municate to  the  Apportionment  Committee  of  each  State 
the  amount  apportioned  to  it; 

2.  To  appoint  an  Apportionment  Committee  for  any  State 
where  no  such  Committee  is  appointed; 

3.  To  employ  such  agents  and  methods  and  to  take 
such  other  action  to  carry  the  apportionment  into  effect 
as  to  it  may  seem  wise; 

4.  To  report  in  writing  at  each  annual  meeting  of  the 
Convention ; 


96  A  Baptist  Manual 

5.  To  divide  ratably  among  the  beneficiaries  of  the 
budget  the  expenses  incurred  in  the  performance  of  the 
duties  of  the  Committee. 

Section  4.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  on  Reports,  to 
serve  from  the  adjournment  of  each  annual  meeting  of 
the  Convention  until  the  adjournment  of  its  next  annual 
meeting.  All  reports  of  co-operating  organizations  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  Committee  as  early  as  practicable  before 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Convention,  at  which  the  Com- 
mittee shall  present  its  report  in  writing. 

Section  5.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  on  Enrolment 
consisting  of  five  persons.  To  this  Committee  shall  be  pre- 
sented the  credentials  of  delegates  to  the  Convention,  and 
the  Committee  shall  prepare  from  these  credentials  and 
shall  report  to  the  Convention  a  roll  of  delegates. 

Section  6.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  on  Order  of 
Business,  which  shall  report  each  day  to  the  Convention 
a  proposed  order  of  business  for  the  next  day. 

Section  7.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  on  Nominations 
of  officers  and  for  vacancies  in  the  Executive  Committee. 

Section  8.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  on  Selection  of 
a  Place  for  the  Next  Annual  Meeting,  which  shall  report 
before  the  adjournment  of  the  last  session  of  the  Con- 
vention at  which  the  Committee  is  appointed. 

Section  9.  The  Committees  on  Enrolment,  on  Order  of 
Business,  on  Nominations,  and  on  Selection  of  a  Place  for 
the  Next  Annual  Meeting  shall  be  elected  at  the  first 
session  of  each  annual  meeting. 

Section  id.  The  Committees  on  Order  of  Business,  on 
Nominations,  on  Selection  of  a  Place  for  the  next  Annual 
Meeting,  and  on  Reports  shall  be  composed  of  one  of  the 
delegates  from  each  State,  to  be  nominated  by  such  dele- 
gates and  elected  by  the  Convention.  A  vacancy  in  any 
one  of  these  committees  shall  be  filled  by  the  delegates 
from  the  unrepresented  State. 


The  Northern  Baptist  Convention        97 

Section  ii.  The  President  shall  appoint  all  committees 
and  shall  fill  any  vacancy  in  any  committee  except  when 
otherwise  provided. 

Section  12.  The  word  "  State  "  means  any  State,  Terri- 
tory, district,  or  dependency  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  V 

CO-OPERATING  ORGANIZATIONS 

Section  i.  On  its  application  and  the  approval  of  the 
Convention  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  any  general  denomina- 
tional missionary,  educational,  or  philanthropic  organiza- 
tion, whose  constitutency  resides  in  the  States  repre- 
sented in  the  Convention,  may  become  a  co-operating 
organization. 

Section  2.    A  co-operating  organization  must  agree: 

(a)  To  insert  in  its  by-laws  a  provision  that  all  ac- 
credited delegates  to  each  annual  meeting  of  the  Northern 
Baptist  Convention  shall  be  annual  members  of  the  organ- 
ization; 

(b)  To  regulate  its  expenditures  in  accordance  with  a 
budget  to  be  annually  approved  by  the  Convention ; 

(c)  To  solicit  funds  only  on  the  approval  of  the  Con- 
vention, or  on  the  approval  of  the  Finance  Committee, 
given  between  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Convention  as 
provided  by  Article  IV,  Section  2,  Subdivision  (c)  ; 

(d)  To  incur  no  indebtedness  without  the  previous  ap- 
proval of  the  Convention,  or  of  the  Finance  Committee,  as 
provided  by   Article   IV,   Section  2,   Subdivision    (c)  ; 

(e)  To  submit  its  books  and  accounts  to  the  inspection 
of  the  Finance  Committee;  to  prepare  its  budgets  and  to 
make  its  financial  reports  in  such  form  as  that  Committee 
shall  request. 

Section  3.  The  Convention,  through  its  Executive  and 
Finance  Committees,  will  aid  in  raising  funds  needed  to 
carry  on  the  work  of  each  co-operating  organization. 


98  A  Baptist  Manual 

Section  4.  Co-operation  between  the  Convention  and  a 
co-operating  organization  shall  be  terminated  on  the  expira- 
tion of  a  year  after  written  notice  of  a  desire  to  terminate 
co-operation  shall  have  been  given  by  one  to  the  other. 

ARTICLE  VI 

AMENDMENTS 

These  by-laws  may  be  amended  at  any  annual  meeting 
of  the  Convention,  either  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  given  at  a  previous  session  of  the 
Convention  at  which  such  amendment  is  submitted,  or 
after  written  notice  of  the  proposed  amendment,  given  at 
a  previous  annual  meeting  and  signed  by  at  least  twenty- 
five  delegates,  representing  not  less  than  five  States. 

The  American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society, 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  and  the  Wo- 
man's American  Baptist  Hoine  Mission  Society  have 
all  adopted  these  by-laws,  with  slight  modifications 
to  suit  their  respective  conditions,  and  have  thus 
become  co-operating  societies  of  the  Convention. 
The  Women's  Foreign  Societies  are  auxiliary  to  the 
American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society,  and  so 
naturally  did  not  enter  the  co-operative  relationship. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
The  Southern  Baptist  Convention 

THE  Baptists  of  the  Southern  States  organized 
at  Augusta,  Ga.,  in  1845,  the  Southern  Bap- 
tist Convention.  It  has  been  from  the  beginning 
an  effective  organization  for  controlHng  the  mis- 
sionary and  pubHcation  activities  of  the  denomina- 
tion in  that  section.  The  independence  and  equal 
rights  of  the  churches  have  been  most  jealously 
guarded.  The  basis  of  membership  differs  mark- 
edly from  that  of  the  Northern  Baptist  Convention. 
There  is  no  delegation  from  the  churches,  but  in- 
dividuals become  members  on  the  basis  of  a  money 
payment.  There  is  one  representative  from  each 
co-operating  district  Association,  a  plan  which  the 
Northern  Convention  distinctly  refused  to  adopt. 
Nevertheless,  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  has 
always  been  a  most  vigorous  and  efficient  expres- 
sion of  the  denomination  in  the  Southern  States. 

CONSTITUTION 

ARTICLE  I 

This  body  shall  be  styled  the  "  Southern  Baptist  Ccn- 

vention." 

ARTICLE  II 

It  shall  be  the   design  of   the   Convention   to  promote 
foreign  and  domestic  missions,  and  other  important  objects 

99 


100  A  Baptist  Manual 

connected  with  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  to  combine 
for  this  purpose  such  portions  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion in  the  United  States  as  may  desire  a  general  organiza- 
tion for  Christian  benevolence,  which  shall  fully  respect 
the  independence  and  equal  rights  of  the  churches. 

ARTICLE  III 

The  Convention  shall  consist,  (i)  of  brethren  who  con- 
tribute funds,  or  are  delegated  by  Baptist  bodies  con- 
tributing funds  for  the  regular  work  of  the  Convention,  on 
the  basis  of  one  delegate  for  every  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  actually  paid  into  the  treasuries  of  the  Boards 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  the  thirtieth  day  of  April 
next  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  Convention;  (2)  of 
one  representative  from  each  of  the  District  Associa- 
tions which  co-operate  with  this  Convention,  provided  that 
such  representative  be  formally  elected  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  his  District  Association,  and  his  election  certified 
to  the  Secretaries  of  the  Convention,  either  in  writing  or 
by  copy  of  the  printed  minutes. 

ARTICLE  IV 

The  officers  of  this  Convention  shall  be  a  President, 
four  Vice-presidents,  a  Treasurer,  an  Auditor,  who  shall, 
in  event  of  the  death  or  disability  of  the  Treasurer,  act  as 
such  officer,  and  two  Secretaries,  who  shall  be  elected  at 
each  annual  meeting,  and  hold  their  offices  until  a  new 
election ;  and  the  officers  of  the  Convention  shall  be,  each 
by  virtue  of  his  office,  members  of  the  several  Boards. 

ARTICLE  V 

The  Convention  shall  elect  at  each  annual  meeting  as 
many  Boards  of  Managers  as,  in  its  judgment,  will  be 
necessary  for  carrying  out  the  benevolent  objects  it  may 
determine  to  promote — all  of  which  Boards  may  continue 
in  office  until  a  new  election.     Each  Board  shall  consist 


The  Southern  Baptist  Convention       loi 

of  a  President,  Vice-president,  Secretaries,  Treasurer, 
Auditor,  and  fifteen  other  members,  seven  of  whom,  in- 
cluding one  or  more  of  the  officers,  shall  form  a  quorum 
for  the  transaction  of  business;  provided,  that  any  of  the 
Boards  may  have  the  same  person  to  fill  the  two  positions 
of  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  To  each 
Board  shall  be  committed,  during  the  recess  of  the  Con- 
vention, the  entire  management  of  all  the  affairs  relating 
to  the  objects  with  whose  interests  it  shall  be  charged;  all 
of  which  management  shall  be  in  strict  accordance  with 
the  constitutional  provisions  adopted  by  this  Convention, 
and  such  other  instructions  as  may  be  given  from  time  to 
time.  Each  Board  shall  have  power  to  make  such  com- 
pensation to  its  Secretaries  and  Treasurer  as  it  may  think 
right,  fill  the  vacancies  occurring  in  its  own  bodies,  and 
enact  its  own  by-laws. 

ARTICLE  VI 

The  Treasurer  of  each  Board  shall  faithfully  account 
for  all  moneys  received  by  him,  keep  a  regular  entry  of  all 
receipts  and  disbursements,  and  make  report  of  them  to  the 
Convention  whenever  it  shall  be  in  session,  and  to  his 
Board  as  often  as  required.  He  shall  also,  on  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  give  competent  security  to  the 
President  of  the  Board  for  all  the  stocks  and  funds  com- 
mitted to  his  care.  His  books  shall  be  open  at  all  times  to 
the  inspection  of  any  member  of  the  Convention  and  of  its 
Board.  No  moneys  shall  be  paid  out  of  any  of  the 
treasuries  of  the  Board  but  by  an  order  from  that  Board 
from  whose  treasury  the  money  is  to  be  drawn,  which 
order  shall  be  signed  by  the  presiding  officer. 

ARTICLE  VII 

The  Corresponding  Secretaries  of  the  several  Boards 
shall  maintain  intercourse  by  letter  with  such  individuals 
or  public  bodies  as  the  interest  of  their  respective  bodies 

H    . 


I02  A  Baptist  Manual 

may   require.     Copies   of   all    such   communications,   with 
their  answers,  if  any,  shall  be  kept  by  them  on  tile. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

The  Recording  Secretaries  of  the  several  Boards  shall 
keep  a  fair  record  of  their  proceedings,  and  of  such  other 
documents  as  may  be  committed  to  them  for  the  purpose. 

ARTICLE  IX 

All  the  officers,  Boards,  missionaries,  and  agents  ap- 
pointed by  the  Convention,  or  by  any  of  its  Boards,  shall 
be  members  of  some  regular  church  in  union  with  the 
churches   composing  this    Convention. 

ARTICLE  X 

Missionaries  appointed  by  any  of  the  Boards  of  this 
Convention  must,  previous  to  their  appointment,  furnish 
evidence  of  genuine  piety,  fervent  zeal  in  their  Master's 
cause,  and  talents  which  fit  them  for  the  service  for 
which  they  offer  themselves. 

ARTICLE  XI 

The  bodies  and  individuals  composing  this  Convention 
shall  have  the  right  to  specify  the  object  or  objects  to 
which  their  contributions  shall  be  applied.  But  when  no 
such  specification  is  made,  the  Convention  will  make  the 
appropriation  at  its  own  discretion. 

ARTICLE  XII 

The  Convention  shall  hold  its  meetings  annually,  but 
extra  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  President,  with  the  ap- 
probation of  any  of  the  Boards  of  Managers.  A  majority 
of  the  attending  delegates  shall  not  be  necessary  to  make  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  The  President,  or 
in  the  event  of  his  death,  any  of  the  Vice-presidents,  of 
the  Convention,  may,  at  the  request  of  two  of  its  Boards, 


The  Southern  Baptist  Convention       103 

change  the  time  and  the  place  of  meeting  of  this  Conven- 
tion, when  it  may  be  deemed  by  him  inexpedient  to  con- 
vene at  the  time  or  place  appointed. 

ARTICLE  XIII 

Any  alterations  which  experience  shall  dictate  may  be 
made  in  these  articles  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present  at  any  annual  meeting  of  the  Convention. 


THE   BY-LAWS  of  the   CONVENTION 

Impressed  with  the  obligations  resting  on  the  Convention 
to  endeavor  more  energetically  and  systematically  to  elicit, 
combine,  and  direct  the  energies  of  the  whole  denomina- 
tion in  one  sacred  effort  for  the  promulgation  of  the  gos- 
pel, we  adopt  the  following  by-laws : 

1.  That  the  Boards  of  the  Convention  be  directed  to 
form  the  closest  possible  connection  with  the  State  Boards, 
where  such  exist,  in  such  a  way  as  shall  be  mutually 
agreeable,  and  in  other  cases  to  secure  such  agency  as 
each  of  the  Boards  may  deem  best,  in  both  cases  pro- 
viding for  the  necessary  expenses  incurred. 

2.  That  the  Secretaries  of  the  Boards  of  the  Convention 
be  instructed  to  secure  frequent  distribution  of  informa- 
tion relating  to  their  work  by  means  of  newspapers,  tracts, 
leaflets,  and  otherwise,  as  may  be  found  expedient  among 
the  mass  of  the  people. 

3.  That  the  Committee  on  the  Nomination  of  New 
Boards  be  instructed  to  nominate,  as  Vice-presidents  of 
Boards,  men  known  to  be  identified  with  the  interests 
of  the  Convention,  and  of  their  own  State  Boards,  and 
unless  special  reasons  exist  to  the  contrary,  men  who 
make  efforts  to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  Convention. 
These  Vice-presidents  shall  be  expected  to  co-operate  with 
the  Boards,  both  giving  and   receiving  suggestions  as  to 


104  ^  Baptist  Manual 

work  to  be  done,  and  they  also  shall  be  expected  to  present 
at  the  next  session  of  the  Convention  a  brief  report  in 
writing  of  what  they  have  been  requested  to  do,  and  of  the 
way  in  which  they  have  complied  with  these  requests, 
with  any  suggestions  they  may  have  to  offer  as  to  the 
conditions  and  needs  of  their  respective  fields.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  each  Secretary  in  due  time  to  furnish  the 
Vice-presidents  of  his  Board  with  suitable  blanks  for  such 
reports,  and  to  call  their  attention  to  this  article,  and  to 
make  any  proper  effort  to  secure  the  due  preparation  of 
these  reports.  In  case  any  Vice-president  appointed  is 
unable  or  unwilling  to  comply  with  the  requests  herein 
mentioned,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board,  if  possible, 
to  find  some  person  who  can,  and  request  him  to  do  so; 
and,  furthermore,  the  Vice-president  for  each  State  shall 
be  desired,  as  speedily  as  possible,  to  prepare  a  roll  of 
the  Associations,  churches,  and  Sunday-schools  in  that 
State,  to  be  used  for  the  distribution  of  information,  and  to 
ascertain  as  far  as  possible  which  of  the  churches  and 
Sunday-schools  are  contributing  to  the  funds  of  the  Board 
and  the  annual  amounts,  and  to  make  systematic  effort 
each  year  to  increase  the  number  and  amount  of  such 
contributions. 

4.  The  Boards  shall  report  at  each  session  of  the  Con- 
vention what  special  efforts  they  have  been  able  to  make 
toward  carrying  out  the  objects  of  these  by-laws. 

5.  Immediately  after  the  reading  of  the  reports  of  the 
Boards  each  year,  a  committee  of  five  shall  be  appointed, 
to  whom  shall  be  referred  so  much  of  these  reports  as  per- 
tains to  the  carrying  out  of  the  by-laws,  and  also  the 
reports    of    the    Vice-presidents. 

6.  The  President,  Vice-presidents,  and  Secretaries  of  the 
Convention  shall  be  elected  by  ballot;  provided,  however, 
that  when  there  is  only  one  nomination  for  the  same  office, 
the  Secretary,  if  there  be  no  objection,  may  be  instructed  to 
cast  the  ballot  for  the  Convention. 


The  Southern  Baptist  Convention       105 

7.  Applause  on  the  floor  of  the  Convention  is  out  of 
order,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  officer 
to  promptly  suppress  all  such  demonstration. 

8.  Speeches  advocating  the  claims  of  any  brother 
nominated  for  an  office  of  the  Convention  shall  be  limited 
to  one  speech  of  nomination,  and  one  speech  seconding 
the  nomination ;  also,  addresses  and  responses  of  welcome 
shall  be  limited  to  one  address  of  not  more  than  fifteen 
minutes  in  length,  and  one  response  of  not  more  than 
ten  minutes. 

9.  These  by-laws  may  be  altered  at  any  time  by  a 
majority  vote,  except  on  the  last  day  of  the  Convention. 


X 


CHAPTER  XIV 

The  General  Convention  of  the  Baptists  of 

North  America 

THERE  is  only  one  Baptist  denomination  in  the 
United  States.  There  are  two  Conventions, 
Northern  and  Southern.  But  this  in  no  sense 
implies  two  denominations.  The  constitution  of 
each  of  those  Conventions  permits  membership  from 
any  part  of  the  United  States.  The  division  is 
purely  one  of  missionary  administration.  It  had, 
of  course,  a  historic  origin,  and  continues  for  con- 
venience. But  there  has  never  been  wanting  a  sense 
of  solidarity.  A  minister  leaving  a  church  in  the 
North  to  accept  a  pastorate  in  the  South  would  no 
more  be  regarded  as  changing  denominational  rela- 
tions than  if  he  went  from  the  East  to  the  West. 

Yet  there  has  been  no  recognized  organization  in 
which  the  entire  denomination  was  represented. 
The  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of  America  pre- 
pared the  way  for  such  an  organization,  and  grow- 
ing sentiment  in  the  North  and  South  favored  it. 

There  were  mutual  approaches  on  the  part  of 

leaders  in  the  two  sections.     The  meeting  of  the 

two  Conventions  in  1905  in  the  neighboring  cities 

of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  afforded 

106 


* 

The  General  Convention  107 

the  opportunity  for  the  united  organization.  There 
was,  therefore,  formed  at  St.  Louis  at  the  close  of 
the  two  conventions  the  General  Convention  of  the 
Baptists  of  North  America.  It  is  noteworthy  that 
in  the  name  of  this  organization  North  America  is 
used  rather  than  the  United  States.  In  truth,  there 
is  only  one  Baptist  denomination  on  the  entire  conti- 
nent. The  Canadian  churches  are  not  in  any  sense 
alien  to  us.  The  provisions  of  membership  in  the 
constitution  clearly  contemplate  the  inclusion  of 
representatives  from  Canada  and  from  any  other 
country  of  North  America. 

The  Hon.  E.  W.  Stephens,  then  the  president  of 
the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  became  the  first 
president  of  the  General  Convention.  An  inspiring 
session  was  held,  with  fraternal  speeches  from 
Northern  and  Southern  speakers.  It  was  felt  that  a 
definite  step  forward  had  been  taken  in  bringing  the 
two  sections  together. 

The  General  Convention  is  not  intended  to  be 
very  much  more  than  an  expression  of  denomina- 
tional solidarity,  but  as  such  it  fills  a  good  place.  It 
is  likely  that  it  will  have  an  enlarging  significance. 

CONSTITUTION 

ARTICLE  I 

NAME  AND  TERRITORY 

The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be  the  General  Con- 
vention of  Baptists  of  North  America.  It  shall  include 
the  continent  of  North  America  and  its  islands. 


io8  A  Baptist  Manual 

ARTICLE  II 

OBJECTS 

The  objects  of  this  Convention  shall  be  to  promote 
closer  fellowship  among  American  Baptists,  their  increased 
efficiency  and  spirituality  and  the  evangelistic  spirit  in  our 
churches;  to  consider  subjects  having  a  bearing  upon  the 
missionary,  educational,  and  philanthropic  enterprises  of 
the  denomination  and  upon  the  moral  and  spiritual  welfare 
of  society. 

ARTICLE  III 

LIMITATIONS 

This  Convention  shall  exercise  no  authority  other  than 
that  which  the  weight  of  its  opinions  may  carry,  nor  shall 
it  interfere  with  the  churches  or  with  the  missionary  or 
educational  agencies  of  the  denomination. 

ARTICLE  IV 

MEMBERSHIP 

This  Convention  shall  be  composed  of  representatives 
duly  appointed  as  follows: 

Section  i.  Each  church  may  appoint  one  representa- 
tive, and  one  additional  representative  for  every  one  hun- 
dred members  or  fraction  thereof  above  the  first  one  hun- 
dred. 

Section  2.  Each  local  or  district  Association  may  appoint 
two  representatives,  and  one  additional  representative  for 
every  ten  churches  or  fraction  thereof  above  the  first  ten. 

Section  3.  Each  territorial,  provincial,  and  State  Con- 
vention (or  general  Association)  may  appoint  ten  represen- 
tatives, and  one  additional  representative  for  every  ten 
thousand  members  above  the  first  fifty  thousand. 

ARTICLE  V 
officers 

Section  i.  The  officers  of  this  Convention  shall  be  a 
President,  three  Vice-presidents,   a   Corresponding  Secre- 


The  General  Convention  109 

tary,  a  Recording  Secretary,  an  assistant  Recording  Secre- 
tary, and  a  Treasurer,  who  together  with  fifteen  others 
shall  constitute  an  Executive  Committee,  any  member  of 
a  Baptist  church  in  the  territory  of  the  Convention  being 
eligible  to  office. 

Section  2.  The  officers  shall  serve  from  the  close  of  the 
Convention  during  which  they  are  elected  to  the  close  of 
the  next  Convention,  or  until  their  successors  are  elected. 

ARTICLE  VI 

AMENDMENTS 

Amendments  to  this  Constitution  may  be  made  at  any 
regular  session  of  the  Convention,  notice  thereof  having 
been  given  in  writing  by  any  five  members  at  a  previous 
session,  or  proposed  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  General  Convention. 


BY-LAWS 

1.  The  Convention  shall  meet  in  1906,  and  thereafter 
every  three  years ;  the  exact  time  and  place  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  Executive  Committee.  Special  meetings  of 
the  Convention  may  be  called  upon  petition  of  two  hundred 
members  of  Baptist  churches,  whose  residences  shall  be 
in  at  least  ten  States  or  Provinces,  and  upon  approval  of 
the  petition  by  the  majority  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

2.  No  appeals  for  money  shall  be  made  nor  collections 
be  taken  which  have  not  been  approved  by  the  Executive 
Committee. 

3.  On  the  first  day  of  each  triennial  session  of  the  Con- 
vention the  Executive  Committee  shall  report  the  enrol- 
ment of  representatives  present,  and  the  President  shall 
appoint  a  Nominating  Committee,  consisting  of  one  from 
each  State,  Territory,  and  Province  represented,  and  this 
Nominating  Committee  shall  subsequently  present  the  names 


no  A  Baptist  Manual 

to  be  voted  upon  as  officers  of  the  Convention,  and  also 
the  names  of  fifteen  others,  who  shall,  with  the  officers, 
constitute  the  Executive  Committee. 

4.  At  a  time  to  be  determined  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee a  collection  for  the  expenses  of  the  Convention 
shall  be  taken. 

5.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  make  arrangements 
for  each  meeting  of  the  Convention  and  submit  a  report 
to  the  Convention,  which  report  shall  include  the  report  of 
the  Treasurer. 

6.  These  by-laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  any  meet- 
ing of  the  Convention,  provided  notice  of  the  proposed 
alteration  or  amendment  has  been  made  in  writing  on  the 
first  day  of  the  Convention,  and  signed  by  at  least  ten 
delegates. 


CHAPTER  XV 
The  Baptist  World  Alliance 

THE  Baptists  have  been  a  scattered  people.  We 
have  had  no  commanding  bishops,  who  could 
be  assembled  by  the  summons  of  a  Metro- 
politan from  all  the  nation  and  from  all  the  world. 
The  splendid  sense  of  unity  presented  by  an  ecu- 
menical council  seemed  to  belong  only  to  the 
churches  governed  by  hierarchies.  Our  fathers 
were  content  to  lose  the  advantage  of  such  dignified 
manifestation  to  the  world,  secure  in  the  value  of 
their  New  Testament  polity. 

But  democracies  have  their  imposing  unity  as  well 
as  oligarchies — more  imposing  in  a  sense  because 
of  their  voluntary  and  representative  character.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century  there  began  to 
be  a  general  demand  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic 
that  there  should  be  a  representative  gathering  of 
the  Baptists  of  the  world.  The  untiring  efforts  of  a 
few  leaders  in  England  and  America  at  last  brought 
it  to  pass.  The  Baptist  World  Congress  was  held 
in  London,  July  11-19,  1905.  The  venerable  Dr. 
Alexander  McLaren  presided  at  the  Congress,  and 
representatives  from  almost  every  part  of  the  globe 
were  present.  As  a  result  of  the  meeting  there  was 
formed  the  Baptist  World  Alliance. 

Ill 


112  A  Baptist  Manual 

CONSTITUTION  0/  the  BAPTIST 
WORLD  ALLIANCE 

PREAMBLE 

Whereas,  in  the  providence  of  God,  the  time  has  come 
when  it  seems  fitting  more  fully  to  manifest  the  essential 
oneness,  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  their  God  and  Saviour, 
of  the  churches  of  the  Baptist  order  and  faith  through- 
out the  world  and  to  promote  the  spirit  of  fellowship, 
service,  and  co-operation  among  them,  while  recognizing 
the  independence  of  each  particular  church  and  not  as- 
suming the  functions  of  any  existing  organization,  it  is 
agreed  to  form  a  Baptist  Alliance,  extending  over  every 
part  of  the  world. 

ARTICLE  I 

DESIGNATION 

This  Alliance  shall  be  known  as  "  The  Baptist  World 
Alliance." 

ARTICLE  II 

MEMBERSHIP 

Any  general  Union,  Convention,  or  Association  of  Bap- 
tist churches  shall  be  eligible  for  membership  in  the  Alli- 
ance. 

ARTICLE  III 

OFFICERS 

The  officers  of  the  Alliance  shall  be  a  President,  a  Vice- 
president  from  each  country  represented  in  the  Alliance, 
a  Treasurer,  a  British  Secretary,  and  an  American  Secre- 
tary. 

ARTICLE  IV 

THE  EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  consist  of  the  President, 
Treasurer,  Secretaries,  and  twenty-one  other  members,  all 


The  Baptist  World  Alliance  113 

of  whom,  together  with  the  officers,  shall  be  elected  at  each 
general  meeting  of  the  Alliance,  and  enter  upon  office  at 
the  close  of  such  meeting. 

Of  the  twenty-one  elected  members :  Five  shall  be  from 
Great  Britain,  seven  shall  be  from  the  United  States  of 
America,  two  shall  be  from  Canada,  and  the  remaining 
seven  shall  be  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 

Five  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  a  meeting 
of  the  Executive,  but  absent  members  shall  have  the 
right  of  voting  by  proxy,  through  any  other  member  of  the 
Executive  who  shall  produce  a  written  authorization.  A 
majority  of  those  voting  in  person  or  by  proxy  shall  be 
sufficient  for  the  transaction  of  business.  Three  months' 
notice  shall  be  given  to  every  member  of  the  Executive  of 
all  business  to  be  brought  before  the  next  meeting,  which 
is  other  than  routine  business.  The  President  shall  ap- 
point at  a  general  meeting  of  the  Alliance  a  committee  of 
nine  members  to  submit  the  names  of  the  officers  and  of 
the  Executive  Committee  for  the  approval  of  the  general 
meeting. 

ARTICLE  V 

ADVISORY   COMMITTEE 

At  a  date  not  later  than  one  year  preceding  a  general 
meeting  of  the  Alliance,  the  Executive  Committee  shall  have 
authority  to  appoint  an  Advisory  Committee  of  not  more 
than  three  hundred  members  of  the  Alliance,  to  confer 
with  the  Executive  Committee  on  any  matter  pertaining 
to  the  objects  of  the  Alliance.  The  Executive  shall,  how- 
ever, have  power  to  appoint  an  Advisory  Committee  not 
exceeding  three  hundred  members  at  such  other  times  as 
it  may  consider  necessary. 

ARTICLE  VI 

POWERS   OF  THE  EXECUTIVE 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  have  the  power  of  fill- 
ing up  vacancies  which  may  occur  among  the  officers  and 


114  ^  Baptist  Manual 

the  Executive  when  the  assembly  is  not  in  session.  It 
shall  be  the  first  business  of  the  Executive  Committee,  after 
its  appointment,  and  the  forming  of  this  Alliance,  to  frame 
the  by-laws  for  the  administration  of  business. 

ARTICLE  VII 

GENERAL   MEETING 

The  Alliance  shall  meet  in  general  assembly  ordinarily 
once  in  five  years,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  the 
Executive  Committee,  the  specific  date  and  place  to  be  de- 
termined by  the  Executive  Committee,  which  shall  have 
power  to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  therefor. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

REPRESENTATION   FOR   GENERAL   MEETING 

Each  constituent  body  of  the  Alliance  may  appoint  mes- 
sengers to  the  general  meeting  from  its  own  resident  mem- 
bers on  a  basis  to  be  determined  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

ARTICLE  IX 

AMENDMENT 

No  change  shall  be  made  in  this  Constitution  except  by 
a  two-thirds  majority  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  Alliance 
after  at  least  two  days'  notice  of  the  proposed  action,  such 
vote  not  to  be  taken  on  the  last  day  of  the  meeting. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
The  Church  Universal 

BAPTISTS  have  always  held  that  their  polity 
and  doctrine  is  essentially  that  of  the  New 
Testament.  They  have  sometimes  very  log- 
ically taken  the  ground  that  only  a  religious  body 
organized  upon  New  Testament  principles  and  pre- 
serving the  New  Testament  ordinances  in  their 
primitive  form  could  properly  be  regarded  as  a 
church.  Consequently  they  have  declined  to  give 
letters  of  regular  dismission  to  their  members  seek- 
ing affiliation  with  other  denominations,  they  have 
refused  to  receive  such  letters  of  dismission  from 
other  denominations,  and  they  have  felt  unable  to 
recognize  the  propriety  of  uniting  in  many  union 
efforts. 

The  relation  of  Baptists  to  other  churches.  It  is 
becoming  increasingly  evident,  however,  that  a  thor- 
ough denominational  loyalty  is  consistent  with  a 
very  large  interdenominational  fraternity.  To-day 
it  is  the  practice  of  Baptist  churches  generally  to 
regard  all  other  evangelical  bodies  as  churches  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  church  is  understood  to  be  the 
invisible  body  of  all  disciples  of  the  Lord,  while  the 
churches  are  organized  groups  of  such  disciples. 

115 


ii6  A  Baptist  Manual 

Union  efforts  of  many  kinds  are,  therefore,  freely 
undertaken. 

The  Baptists  have  not  been  great  advocates  of 
church  union.  BeHeving  in  the  value  and  New 
Testament  character  of  their  own  principles,  they 
have  confidently  expected  them  to  be  increasingly 
accepted.  But  they  have  not  looked  to  a  union 
of  the  whole  church  under  their  banner,  nor  have 
they  desired  to  make  compromises  for  the  sake  of 
organic  unity. 

The  Baptist  position  may  be  said  to  be  that  of  a 
free  acceptance  of  the  denominational  situation, 
with  a  complete  willingness  to  co-operate  in  all 
interdenominational  endeavor.  This  attitude  is  evi- 
dent in  the  long  interdenominational  comity  in  the 
work  of  foreign  missions,  and  more  recently  in  home 
and  city  missions.  A  noteworthy  example  also  is  in 
the  acceptance  of  membership  in  the  Federal  Coun- 
cil of  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

The  Baptist  delegation  to  the  Federal  Council  in 
presenting  its  report  to  the  Northern  Baptist  Con- 
vention at  Portland,  declared  its  hearty  approval  of 
the  democratic  organization  of  the  Council,  and 
added,  "  On  this  democratic  basis  the  Baptist 
churches  can  heartily  join  in  standing  with  the  great 
Christian  bodies  of  our  country  in  matters  of  com- 
mon interest  that  concern  Christians  of  every  name 
and  demand  their  united  and  concerted  action,  if 
the  church  is  to  lead  effectively  in  the  conquest  of 
the  world  for  Christ." 


The  Church  Universal  117 

The  Federal  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America.  This  body  is  the  most  significant  mani- 
festation of  the  church  universal  that  our  day  af- 
fords. It  is  organized  on  a  plan  recommended  by 
the  Inter-Church  Conference  of  1905,  under  a  con- 
stitution adopted  at  Philadelphia  in  1908.  The  fol- 
lowing churches  are  represented  at  present,  and 
others  may  be  admitted  by  two-thirds  vote :  The 
Baptist  churches  of  the  United  States,  the  Free 
Baptist  General  Conference,  the  National  Baptist 
Convention  (African),  the  Christians  (the  Christian 
Connection),  the  Congregational  Churches,  the  Con- 
gregational Methodist  Churches,  the  Disciples  of 
Christ,  the  Evangelical  Association,  the  Evangelical 
Synod  of  North  America,  the  Friends,  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  General  Synod,  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  (South),  the  Primitive  Methodist 
Church,  the  Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
America,  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  African 
Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church,  the  General  Con- 
ference of  the  Mennonite  Church  of  North  Amer- 
ica, the  Moravian  Church,  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States,  The  Welsh  Calvinistic 
Methodist  or  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  the  Re- 
formed Church  in  America,  the  Reformed  Church 
I 


ii8  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  Reformed 
Episcopal  Church,  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist 
churches,  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Augustana  Synod, 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  the  United  Evangel- 
ical Church. 

The  officers  of  the  Federal  Council  are  a  presi- 
dent, one  vice-president  from  each  denomination, 
a  recording  secretary,  a  corresponding  secretary,  a 
treasurer,  and  an  executive. 

The  management  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  consisting  of  the  above  officers,  and  one 
representative  from  each  denomination;  and  in  case 
of  the  larger  denominations  an  additional  repre- 
sentative for  each  five  hundred  thousand  communi- 
cants or  major  fraction  thereof.  All  ex-presidents 
are  members  of  this  committee. 

This  Executive  Committee  has  power  to  represent 
the  Federal  Council  in  the  promotion  of  the  fol- 
lowing objects: 

I.  To  express  the  fellowship  and  catholic  unity  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

II.  To  bring  the  Christian  bodies  of  America  into  united 
service  for  Christ  and  the  world. 

III.  To  encourage  devotional  fellowship  and  mutual 
counsel  concerning  the  spiritual  life  and  religious  activities 
of  the  churches. 

IV.  To  secure  a  larger  combined  influence  of  the 
churches  of  Christ  in  all  matters  affecting  the  moral  and 
social  condition  of  the  people,  so  as  to  promote  the  ap- 
plication of  the  law  of  Christ  in  every  relation  of  human 
life. 


The  Church  Universal  119 

V.  To  assist  in  the  organization  of  local  branches  of 
the  Federal  Council  to  promote  its  aims  in  their  com- 
munities. 

This  Federal  Council  shall  have  no  authority  over  the 
constituent  bodies  adhering  to  it;  but  its  province  shall  be 
limited  to  the  expression  of  its  counsel  and  the  recommend- 
ing of  a  course  of  action  in  matters  of  common  interest 
to  the  churches,  local  councils,  and  individual   Christians. 

It  has  no  authority  to  draw  up  a  common  creed  or  form 
of  government  or  of  worship,  or  in  any  way  to  limit  the 
full  autonomy  of  the  Christian  bodies  adhering  to  it. 

The  Federal  Council  does  its  work  through  com- 
mittees of  not  less  than  twenty-five  members  each. 
The  following  are  provided  for  in  the  by-laws: 

1.  K  Committee  on  Foreign  Missions,  to  which 
are  referred  all  matters  relating  to  the  administra- 
tion of  missions  in  the  foreign  field. 

2.  A  Committee  on  Home  Missions,  to  which 
are  referred  all  matters  relating  to  the  evangehza- 
tion  of  our  own  country. 

3.  A  Committee  on  Literature  and  Education,  to 
which  are  referred  all  matters  concerning  publica- 
tions, educational  institutions  and  plans,  and  Sun- 
day-school work. 

4.  A  Committee  on  Finance,  which  prepares  the 
budget  for  the  Council  and  performs  such  other 
duties  as  may  be  assigned  to  it. 

5.  A  Committee  on  Social  Service  to  co-operate 
with  similar  church  organizations,  in  the  study  of 
social  conditions,  and  to  secure  a  more  natural  rela- 
tionship between  working  men  and  the  church. 


I20  A  Baptist  Manual 

6.  A  Committee  on  Family  Life,  to  which  are  re- 
ferred all  matters  relating  to  marriage  and  divorce 
and  the  development  of  family  life. 

7.  A  Committee  on  Sunday  Observance,  to  which 
are  referred  all  matters  relating  to  a  better  observ- 
ance of  the  Lord's  Day. 

8.  A  Committee  on  Temperance,  to  which  are  re- 
ferred all  matters  relating  to  the  suppression  of  the 
drink  traffic. 

IMembers  of  these  committees,  not  elected  mem- 
bers of  the  Executive  Committee,  become  corre- 
sponding members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and 
enjoy  all  of  the  privileges  of  that  committee,  except 
that  of  voting. 

The  Federal  Council  meets  once  in  four  years, 
beginning  with  1908,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in 
December,  at  eight  p.  m.  Members  of  this  Council 
are  appointed  as  follows : 

Each  of  the  Christian  bodies  adhering  to  this 
Federal  Council  shall  be  entitled  to  four  members, 
and  shall  be  further  entitled  to  one  member  for 
every  fifty  thousand  of  its  communicants  or  major 
fraction  thereof. 

Under  this  rule  the  Northern  Baptist  delegation 
has  been  twenty- four.  The  delegation  is  divided  as 
nearly  as  may  be  between  clerical  and  lay  delegates, 
and  is  appointed  by  the  Northern  Baptist  Conven- 
tion. 

In  meetings  of  the  Council  voting  is  by  general 
vote  unless  otherwise  demanded. 


The  Church  Universal  121 

But  in  case  one-third  of  the  members  present  and  voting 
request  it,  the  vote  shall  be  by  the  bodies  represented,  the 
members  of  each  body  voting  separately;  and  action  shall 
require  the  vote,  not  only  of  a  majority  of  the  members 
voting,  but  also  of  the  bodies  represented. 

It  is  the  plan  of  the  Federal  Council  that  there 
shall  be  State  Federations  upon  the  same  general 
plan ;  and  some  progress  has  been  made  in  this  direc- 
tion. 


Part  II 


A  Compendium  of  Forms 

For  the  Use  of  Churches 
and  Councils 


BAPTIST  STATEMENTS  ^DOCTRINE 

BAPTISTS  have  no  authoritative  creed.  It  is 
within  the  competence  of  any  church  to  make 
its  own  statement  of  doctrine  or  to  organize 
without  a  definite  statement  of  doctrine  at  all.  It 
has  been  usual,  however,  to  express  the  common 
agreement  of  the  churches  by  the  adoption  of  some 
widely  accepted  creed.  At  the  same  time  it  has 
always  been  understood  that  such  a  creed  was  open 
to  revision  at  any  time.  Two  statements  have  had 
the  widest  circulation  among  us.  The  Philadel- 
phia Confession,  adopted  by  the  Philadelphia  Asso- 
ciation in  1742,  was  practically  the  old  creed  of  the 
English  Baptists.  The  New  Hampshire  "  Declara- 
tion of  Faith  "  was  adopted  by  the  New  Hampshire 
Baptist  State  Convention  in  1833,  and  has  been 
most  generally  adopted  by  the  churches. 

THE  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  ARTICLES  OF  FAITH 

I.  The  Scriptures 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible  was  written  by  men 
divinely  inspired,  and  is  a  perfect  treasure  of  heavenly 
instruction ;  that  it  has  God  for  its  author,  salvation  for 
its  end,  and  truth  without  any  mixture  of  error  for  its 
matter;  that  it  reveals  the  principles  by  which  God  will 
judge  us;   and  therefore  is,  and   shall   remain  to  the  end 

125 


126  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  the  world,  the  true  center  of  Christian  union,  and  the 
supreme  standard  by  which  all  human  conduct,  creeds,  and 
opinions  should  be  tried. 

2.  The  True  God 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  there  is  one,  and 
only  one,  living  and  true  God,  an  infinite,  intelligent  Spirit, 
whose  name  is  Jehovah,  the  Maker  and  Supreme  Ruler 
of  heaven  and  earth;  inexpressibly  glorious  in  holiness, 
and  worthy  of  all  possible  honor,  confidence,  and  love; 
that  in  the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  are  three  persons— 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost;  equal  in  every 
divine  perfection,  and  executing  distinct  but  harmonious 
offices  in  the  great  work  of  redemption. 

3,  The  Fall  of  Man 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  man  was  created 
in  hohness,  under  the  law  of  his  Maker;  but  by  volun- 
tary transgression  he  fell  from  that  holy  and  happy  state; 
in  consequence  of  which  all  mankind  are  now  sinners,  not 
by  constraint,  but  choice ;  being  by  nature  utterly  void  of 
that  holiness  required  by  the  law  of  God,  positively  in- 
clined to  evil;  and  therefore  under  just  condemnation 
to  eternal  ruin,  without  defense  or  excuse. 

4.  GoD^s  Purpose  of  Grace 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  election  is  the 
eternal  purpose  of  God,  according  to  which  he  graciously 
regenerates,  sanctifies,  and  saves  sinners;  that  being  per- 
fectly consistent  with  the  free  agency  of  man,  it  com- 
prehends all  the  means  in  connection  with  the  end ;  that 
it  is  a  most  glorious  display  of  God's  sovereign  goodness, 
being  infinitely  free,  wise,  holy,  and  unchangeable ;  that  it 
utterly  excludes  boasting,  and  promotes  humility,  love, 
prayer,  praise,  trust  in   God,  and  active   imitation  of  his 


Statements  of  Doctrine  i2y 

free  mercy;  that  it  encourages  the  use  of  means  in  the 
highest  degree ;  that  it  may  be  ascertained  by  its  effects 
in  all  who  truly  believe  the  gospel;  that  it  is  the  founda- 
tion of  Christian  assurance;  and  that  to  ascertain  it  with 
regard  to  ourselves  demands  and  deserves  the  utmost 
diligence. 

5.  The  Way  of  Salvation 

"We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  salvation  of 
sinners  is  wholly  of  grace,  through  the  mediatorial  offices 
of  the  Son  of  God;  who,  according  to  the  will  of  the 
Father,  assumed  our  nature,  yet  without  sin ;  honored  the 
divine  law  by  his  personal  obedience,  and  by  his  death 
made  a  full  atonement  for  our  sins;  that  having  risen 
from  the  dead,  he  is  now  enthroned  in  heaven;  and  uniting 
in  his  wonderful  person  the  tenderest  sympathies  with 
divine  perfections,  he  is  every  way  qualified  to  be  a 
suitable,  a  compassionate,  and  an  all-sufficient  Saviour. 

6.  Of  Regeneration 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  regeneration,  or  the 
new  birth,  is  that  change  wrought  in  the  soul  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  by  which  a  new  nature  and  a  spiritual  life,  not  be- 
fore possessed,  are  imparted,  and  the  person  becomes 
a  new  creation  in  Christ  Jesus;  a  holy  disposition  is  given 
to  the  mind,  the  will  subdued,  the  dominion  of  sin  broken, 
and  the  affections  changed  from  a  love  of  sin  and  self 
to  a  love  of  holiness  and  God ;  the  change  is  instantaneous, 
effected  solely  by  the  power  of  God,  in  a  manner  incom- 
prehensible to  reason;  the  evidence  of  it  is  found  in  a 
changed  disposition  of  mind,  the  fruits  of  righteousness, 
and  a  newness  of  life.  And  without  it  salvation  is  im- 
possible. 

7.  Of  Justification 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  great  gospel 
blessing  which  Christ  secures  to  such  as  believe  in  him  is 


128  A  Baptist  Manual 

justification;  that  justification  includes  the  pardon  of  sin, 
and  the  promise  of  eternal  life  on  principles  of  righteous- 
ness ;  that  it  is  bestowed,  not  in  consideration  of  any  works 
of  righteousness  which  we  have  done,  but  solely  through 
faith  in  the  Redeemer's  blood;  by  virtue  of  which  faith 
his  perfect  righteousness  is  freely  imputed  to  us  of  God; 
that  it  brings  us  into  a  state  of  most  blessed  peace  and 
favor  with  God,  and  secures  every  other  blessing  needful 
for  time  and  eternity. 

8.  The  Perseverance  of  Saints 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  such  as  are  truly 
regenerate,  being  born  of  the  Spirit,  will  not  utterly  fall 
away  and  finally  perish,  but  will  endure  unto  the  end;  that 
their  persevering  attachment  to  Christ  is  the  grand  mark 
which  distinguishes  them  from  superficial  professors ;  that 
a  special  providence  watches  over  their  welfare;  and  they 
are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

9.  The  Law  and  the  Gospel 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  law  of  God 
is  the  eternal  and  unchangeable  rule  of  his  moral  govern- 
ment; that  it  is  holy,  just,  and  good;  and  that  the  in- 
ability which  the  Scriptures  ascribe  to  fallen  men  to  fulfil 
its  precepts  arises  entirely  from  their  sinful  nature;  to  de- 
liver them  from  which,  and  to  restore  them  through  a 
Mediator  to  unfeigned  obedience  to  the  holy  law,  is  one 
great  end  of  the  gospel,  and  of  the  means  of  grace  con- 
nected with  the  establishment  of  the  visible  church. 

10.  A  Gospel  Church 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  a  visible  church  of 
Christ  is  a  congregation  of  baptized  believers,  associated 
by  covenant  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  the  gospel ;  ob- 
serving the  ordinances  of  Christ;  governed  by  his  laws; 
and  exercising  the  gifts,  rights,  and  privileges  invested  in 


Statements  of  Doctrine  129 

them  by  his  word;  that  its  only  scriptural  officers  are 
bishops  or  pastors,  and  deacons,  whose  qualifications, 
claims,  and  duties  are  defined  in  the  Epistles  to  Timothy 
and  Titus. 

11,  Christian  Baptism 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  Christian  baptism 
is  the  immersion  in  water  of  a  believer  in  Christ,  into  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost;  to  show 
forth,  in  a  solemn  and  beautiful  emblem,  our  faith  in  the 
crucified,  buried,  and  risen  Saviour,  with  its  effect,  in  our 
death  to  sin  and  resurrection  to  a  new  life;  that  it  is  pre- 
requisite to  the  privileges  of  a  church  relation  and  to  the 
Lord's  Supper. 

12.  The  Lord's  Supper 

Wle  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  Lord's  Supper 
is  a  provision  of  bread  and  wine,  as  symbols  of  Christ's 
body  and  blood,  partaken  of  by  the  members  of  the  church, 
in  commemoration  of  the  suffering  and  death  of  their 
Lord;  showing  their  faith  and  participation  in  the  merits 
of  his  sacrifice,  and  their  hope  of  eternal  life  through  his 
resurrection  from  the  dead;  its  observance  to  be  pre- 
ceded by  faithful  self-examination. 

13.  The  Christian  Sabbath 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  first  day  of  the 
week  is  the  Lord's  Day,  and  is  to  be  kept  sacred  to  re- 
ligious purposes  by  abstaining  from  all  secular  labor, 
except  works  of  mercy  and  necessity,  by  the  devout  ob- 
servance of  all  the  means  of  grace,  both  private  and  public, 
and  by  preparation  for  that  rest  that  remaineth  for  the 
people  of  God. 

14.  Civil  Government 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  civil  government 
is  of  divine  appointment,  for  the  interest  and  good  order 


130  A  Baptist  Manual 

of  human  society,  and  that  magistrates  are  to  be  prayed 
for,  conscientiously  honored  and  obeyed,  except  only  in 
things  opposed  to  the  will  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  is  the  only  Lord  of  the  conscience  and  the  Prince 
of  the  kings  of  the  earth.  But  that  civil  rulers  have  no 
rights  of  control  over,  or  of  interference  with,  religious 
matters. 

15.  Righteous  and  Wicked 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  there  is  a  radical 
and  essential  difference  between  the  righteous  and  the 
wicked;  that  such  only  as  through  faith  are  justified  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of 
our  God,  are  truly  righteous  in  his  esteem ;  while  all  such 
as  continue  in  impenitence  and  unbelief  are,  in  his  sight, 
wicked  and  under  the  curse ;  and  this  distinction  holds 
among  men  both  in  this  life  and  after  death. 

16.  The  World  to  Come 

We  believe  the  Scriptures  teach  that  the  end  of  the 
world  is  approaching;  that  at  the  last  day  Christ  will 
descend  from  heaven  and  raise  the  dead  from  the  grave 
for  final  retribution;  that  a  solemn  separation  will  then 
take  place;  that  the  wicked  will  be  adjudged  to  endless 
sorrow,  and  the  righteous  to  endless  joy;  and  this  judg- 
ment will  fix  forever  the  final  state  of  men  in  heaven  or 
hell  on  principles   of   righteousness. 

This  Confession  was  largely  the  work  of  Dr.  J. 
Newton  Brown,  who  subsequently  enlarged  it  by  the 
addition  of  articles  on  repentance  and  faith  and 
sanctification.  It  was  further  modified  and  enlarged 
by  Doctor  Hiscox  in  the  "  New  Directory  for  Bap- 
tist Churches."  It  will  ever  remain  as  a  significant 
monument  in  our  history.^ 

1  A  covenant  was  also  adopted.  It  has  in  the  course  of  years  been 
slightly  modified.      The  form  as  now  generally  used  is  given  on  page  133. 


Statements  of  Doctrine  131 

A  Confession  of  Faith  in  Scriptural  Language 

There  is  a  growing  feeling  among  us  that  a  Con- 
fession of  Faith  ought  to  be  in  scriptural  rather  than 
in  theological  language.  The  passages  of  Scripture 
employed  in  connection  with  the  various  articles  in 
the  New  Hampshire  Declaration  might  well,  with 
some  modification,  be  arranged  into  such  a  Confes- 
sion. 

T.  We  believe  in  one  God,  revealed  to  us  as  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 

II.  We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments  were  given  by  inspiration  of  God  and 
are  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction, 
for  instruction  in  righteousness. 

III.  We  believe  that  man  was  made  in  the  image  of 
God,  but  that  all  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God. 

IV.  We  believe  that  God  willeth  not  the  death  of  the 
sinner,  but  rather  that  he  should  turn  from  his  wicked- 
ness and  live;  and  that  Jesus  Christ  came  that  we  might 
have  life,  and  that  we  might  have  it  abundantly. 

V.  We  believe  that  if  we  confess  our  sins  he  is  faithful 
and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from 
all  unrighteousness. 

VI.  We  believe  that  by  grace  we  are  saved  through 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ. 

VII.  We  believe  that  the  Spirit  himself  beareth  witness 
with  our  spirit,  that  we  are  the  children  of  God. 

VIII.  We  believe  that  we  must  work  out  our  own  salva- 
tion with  fear  and  trembling,  for  it  is  God  that  worketh 
in  us  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure. 

IX.  We  believe  that  we  should  love  the  Lord  our 
God  with  all  our  heart,  and  with  all  our  soul,  and  witl? 


132  A  Baptist  Manual 

all  our  mind,  and  with  all  our  strength,  and  our  neighbors 
as  ourselves, 

X.  We  believe  that  they  who  received  the  word  at  the 
first  were  immersed,  and  that  the  members  of  Christ's 
church  should  be  buried  with  him  by  immersion  into  death ; 
that  like  as  Christ  was  raised  from  the  dead  by  the  glory 
of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also  should  walk  in  newness 
of  life. 

XI.  We  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  night  in 
which  he  was  betrayed  took  bread  and  the  cup  and  gave 
to  his  disciples;  and  that  as  often  as  we  eat  the  bread  and 
drink  the  cup  we  proclaim  the  Lord's  death  until  he  come. 

XIL  We  believe  that  we  should  make  disciples  of  all 
the  nations,  baptizing  them  into  the  name  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  teaching  them 
to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  Jesus  commanded  us. 

XIIL  We  believe  that  righteousness  shall  cover  the 
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea ;  that  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  every  knee  shall  bow,  and  that  every  tongue  shall 
confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father. 

XIV.  We  believe  that  the  last  enemy  that  shall  be  de- 
stroyed is  death,  and  that  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice 
of  the  Son  of  God  and  shall  come  forth;  they  that  have 
done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life;  and  they  that 
have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  judgment. 


THE  CONSTITUTION  of  a  CHURCH 


I.  Name 

This  church  shall  be  called  the  . 
Baptist  Church  of  


II.  Covenant^ 

Having  been  led,  as  we  believe,  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
to  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  our  Saviour,  and  on 
the  profession  of  our  faith,  having  been  baptized  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy- 
Ghost,  we  do  now  in  the  presence  of  God,  angels,  and  this 
assembly,  most  solemnly  and  joyfully  enter  into  covenant 
with  one  another  as  one  body  in  Christ.  We  engage,  there- 
fore, by  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  walk  together  in 
Christian  love;  to  strive  for  the  advancement  of  this 
church,  in  knowledge,  holiness,  and  comfort;  to  promote 
its  prosperity  and  spirituality;  to  sustain  its  worship, 
ordinances,  discipline,  and  doctrines;  to  contribute  cheer- 
fully and  regularly  to  the  support  of  the  ministry,  the  ex- 
penses of  the  church;  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  the 
spread  of  the  gospel  through  all  nations.  We  also  engage 
to  maintain  family  and  secret  devotion;  to  educate  re- 
ligiously our  children;  to  seek  the  salvation  of  our  kindred 
and  acquaintances ;  to  walk  circumspectly  in  the  world ;  to 
be  just  in  our  dealings,  faithful  in  our  engagements,  and 
exemplary  in  our  deportment;  to  avoid  all  tattling,  back- 
biting, and  excessive  anger ;  to  abstain  from  the  sale  and 

1  The  covenant  may  be  adopted  as  part  of  the  constitution  or  as  a 
separate  instrument.  This  form  is  that  most  widely  used.  It  has  been 
modified  somewhat  from  the  New  Hampshire  form. 

K  133 


134  ^  Baptist  Manual 

use  of  intoxicating  drink  as  a  beverage,  and  to  be  zealous 
in  our  efforts  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  our  Saviour. 
We  further  engage  to  watch  over  one  another  in  brotherly- 
love;  to  remember  each  other  in  prayer;  to  aid  each  other 
in  sickness  and  distress;  to  cultivate  Christian  sympathy 
in  feeling  and  courtesy  in  speech;  to  be  slow  to  take 
offense,  but  always  ready  for  reconciliation,  and  mindful 
of  the  rules  of  our  Saviour,  to  secure  it  without  delay. 
We  moreover  engage  that,  when  we  remove  from  this 
place,  we  will  as  soon  as  possible  unite  with  some  other 
church  where  we  can  carry  out  the  spirit  of  this  covenant 
and  the  principles  of  God's  word. 

III.  Character 

Section  i.  Polity.  Its  government  is  vested  in  the 
body  of  believers  who  compose  it.  It  is  subject  to  the 
control  of  no  other  ecclesiastical  body,  but  it  recognizes 
and  sustains  the  obligations  of  mutual  counsel  and  co- 
operation which  are  common  among  Baptist  churches. 

Section  2,  Doctrine.  It  receives  the  Scriptures  as  its 
authority  in  matters  of  faith  and  practice.  Its  under- 
standing of  Christian  truth  as  contained  therein  is  in 
essential  accord  with  the  belief  of  the  Baptist  churches. 

IV.  Membership 

Section  i.  Qualifications.  Its  membership  consists  of 
such  persons  as  confess  Jesus  Christ  to  be  their  Saviour 
and  Lord,  and  who,  (i)  after  due  examination  by  the 
church  as  to  their  Christian  experience,  and,  if  coming 
from  other  churches,  as  to  their  letters  of  dismission 
and  recommendations  or  satisfactory  substitutes  therefor, 
(2) have  been  accepted  by  vote  of  the  church  and,  having 
been    baptized,    (3)    enter    into    its    covenant. 

Section  2.  Duties.  Members  are  expected,  first  of  all, 
to  be  faithful  in  all  the  spiritual  duties  essential  to  the 
Christian  life ;   and  also  to  attend  habitually  the  services 


Constitution  of  a  Church  135 

of  this  church,  to  give  regularly  for  its  support  and  its 
charities,  and  to  share  in  its  organized  work. 

Section  3.  Rights.  Such  members  as  are  in  full  and 
regular  standing,  and  do  not  hold  letters  of  dismission  and 
recommendation,  and  have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  such  only,  may  act  and  vote  in  the  transactions 
of  the  church. 

Section  4.  Termination.  The  continuance  of  member- 
ship shall  be  subject  to  the  principles  and  usages  of  the 
Baptist  churches,  and  especially  as  follows: 

(i)  Any  member  in  good  and  regular  standing  who 
desires  a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation  to  any 
other  Baptist  church  is  entitled  to  receive  it  upon  his 
written  request.  In  case  of  removal  to  another  community 
he  should  promptly  make  such  request.  This  letter  shall 
be  valid  as  a  recommendation  for  only  one  year  from  its 
date,  unless  renewed,  and  this  restriction  shall  be  stated 
in  the  letter. 

(2)  If  a  member  desires  to  join  a  religious  body  with 
which  this  church  is  not  in  fellowship,  the  church  may, 
at  his  request,  give  him  a  certificate  of  his  good  standing 
and  terminate  his  membership. 

(3)  If  a  member  in  good  standing  requests  to  be  re- 
leased from  his  covenant  obligations  to  this  church  for 
reasons  which  the  church  may  finally  deem  satisfactory, 
after  it  shall  have  patiently  and  kindly  endeavored  to  secure 
his  continuance  in  its  fellowship,  such  request  may  be 
granted  and  his  membership  terminated. 

(4)  The  church  may  also,  after  due  notice  and  hear- 
ing and  kindly  effort  to  make  such  action  unnecessary, 
terminate  the  membership  of  persons  for  the  space  of  two 
years  non-resident,  or  for  the  same  space  of  time  not 
habitually  worshiping  with  the  church,  or  for  the  same 
space  of  time  not  contributing  to  its  support  according  to 
the  system  prescribed  by  the  church  or  in  some  way  satis- 
factory thereto. 


136  A  Baptist  Manual 

(5)  Should  a  member  become  an  offense  to  the  church 
and  to  its  good  name  by  reason  of  immoral  or  unchris- 
tian conduct,  or  by  persistent  breach  of  his  covenant 
vows,  the  church  may  terminate  his  membership,  but 
only  after  due  notice  and  hearing,  and  after  faithful 
efforts  have  been  made  to  bring  such  member  to  repentance 
and  amendment. 

(6)  The  membership  of  no  person  shall  be  terminated 
(except  by  letter)  at  the  meeting  when  the  recommendation 
for  such  action  is  made. 

(7)  All  requests  for  termination  of  membership  or  ac- 
tion looking  thereto  shall  first  be  considered  by  the  deacons, 
who  shall  make  recommendations  to  the  church. 

Section  5.  Restoration.  Any  person  whose  member- 
ship has  been  terminated  may  be  restored  by  vote  of  the 
church,  if  for  any  offense,  upon  evidence  of  his  repentance 
and  reformation,  or,  if  on  account  of  continued  absence, 
upon  satisfactory  explanation. 

V.  Officers  and  Committees 

Section  i.  The  officers  and  committees  shall  be  as 
follows : 

(i)  A  Pastor,  to  be  chosen  and  called  by  the  church 
whenever  a  vacancy  occurs.  His  election  shall  take  place 
at  a  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  of  which  at  least 
one  week's  public  notice  shall  have  been  given.  The 
election  shall  be  by  ballot,  an  affirmative  vote  of  three- 
fourths  of  those  present  being  necessary  to  a  choice. 

(2)  A  Clerk,  to  be  chosen  at  each  annual  meeting,  to 
serve  for  one  year  or  until  another  shall  be  chosen  and 
qualified. 

(3)  Six  Deacons,  two  of  whom  shall  be  elected  at  each 
annual   meeting  to   serve   for  three  years.^ 

1  In  organizing  a  church  the  deacons  should  be  elected  to  serve  for  one, 
two,  three,  or  more  years,  respectivelj',  according  to  the  number  of  deacons. 
This  section  may  be  suitably  altered  to  meet  the  jirelerence  ot  any  church 


Constitution  of  a  Church  137 

(4)  A  Treasurer,  to  be  chosen  at  each  annual  meeting 
to  serve  for  one  year  or  until  another  shall  be  chosen 
in  his  stead. 

(5)  A  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  to  be 
chosen  at  each  annual  meeting.^ 

(6)  A  Finance  Committee,  which  shall  consist  of  the 
Treasurer  of  the  church  {ex  officio)  and  not  to  exceed 
four  other  persons  to  be  nominated  by  the  advisory  com- 
mittee, one  of  whom  shall  be  a  deacon  and  one  a  trustee. 
The  names  of  this  committee  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
church  for  approval  within  two  weeks  after  the  annual 
meeting.  If  not  approved,  other  names  may  be  submitted 
at  any  subsequent  meeting. 

This  committee  shall  devise  and  put  into  operation  ways 
and  means  for  raising  the  necessary  funds  for  the  support 
of  the  church.  It  shall  also  supervise  the  disbursement  of 
the  funds  as  appropriated  by  the  church,  and  shall  make 
such  reports  to  the  advisory  committee  and  to  the  church 
as  may  be  requested  by  either  or  both  of  them. 

(7)  A  Board  of Trustees,  one-third  of  whom  shall 

be  elected  at  each  annual  meeting  to  serve  for  three  years, 
and  until  their  successors  shall  be  appointed,  to  hold  in 
trust  the  property  of  the  church.^  They  shall  have  the 
actual  care  of  the  place  of  worship,  but  shall  have  no 
power  to  buy,  sell,  mortgage,  lease,  or  transfer,  any  pro- 
perty without  a  specific  vote  of  the  church  authorizing  such 
action. 

in  regard  to  term  of  office.  The  fraction  of  a  year  up  to  the  next  annual 
meeting  should  be  regarded  as  a  full  year.  In  accordance  with  the  practice 
of  some  churches,  the  following  may  be  added  by  special  vote  if  the  church 
so  desires:  "No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  reelection  as  deacon,  after  serv- 
ing a  full  term  as  such,  until  after  an  interval  of  one  year."  In  the  case 
of  small  churches  a  less  number  than  six  deacons  may  be  chosen.  Larger 
churches  often  have  many  more.  Election  for  a  term  of  years  is  of  course 
optional.     Many  churches  will  continue  to  prefer  to  elect  for  life. 

1  If,  as  in  many  cases  is  the  custom,  the  school  chooses  its  own  superin- 
tendent, the  church  should  ratify  the  choice  in  order  to  make  it  valid. 

'  As  to  the  election  of  these  officers  the  church  should  carefully  consider 
the  laws  of  the  State  in  which  it  is  situated. 


138  A  Baptist  Manual 

(8)  All  officers  and  committees  named  in  the  above 
sections  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  and  all  elections,  except 
that  of  Pastor,  shall  be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the 
votes  cast  by  the  members  present  who  are  qualified  to  vote. 

(9)  The  Advisory  Committee.  The  designated  officers 
of  the  church,  together  with  the  Finance  Committee,  two 
representatives  nominated  by  the  women's  organization 
and  one  representative  nominated  by  the  young  people's 
society  shall  constitute  an  Advisory  Committee,  of  which 
seven  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  submit  to  the 
church  recommendations  on  such  matters  as  may  be  re- 
ferred to  it  by  the  church.  It  may  also  make  recommenda- 
tions to  the  church  of  its  own  motion,  provided,  however, 
that  action  on  any  recommendation  on  a  subject  not  re- 
ferred to  it  shall  be  postponed  to  a  later  meeting  on  the 
request  of  any  member,  sustained  by  a  vote  of  one-fourth 
of  the  members  present.  Any  new  business  presented  to 
the  church  shall  be  referred  to  the  Advisory  Committee  if 
requested  by  any  member  of  the  church  sustained  by  one- 
fourth  of  the  members  present.  This  committee  may  have 
general  charge  of  the  church  music,  and  also  act  as  a  pulpit 
committee  in  recommending  a  new  Pastor  when  necessary. 

Meetings  of  the  committee  may  be  called  at  any  time 
by  the  Pastor,  Treasurer,  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  or  any  three  members,  provided  that  public 
notice  of  such  meeting  be  given,  or  one  day's  personal 
notice  to  each  member  of  the  committee  in  the  city. 

(10)  The  Nominating  Committee.  A  Nominating  Com- 
mittee, consisting  of  six  persons,  shall  be  appointed  at  the 
last  weekly  prayer  meeting  in  ,  or  as  soon  there- 
after as  practicable.  This  committee  shall  be  chosen  by 
ballot  without  previous  nomination — the  six  names  receiv- 
ing the  highest  number  of  votes  to  be  declared  elected. 
On  the  Sunday  succeeding  the  appointment  of  this  com- 
mittee, a  Nominating  Committee,  consisting  of  three  per- 


Constitution  of  a  Church  139 

sons,  shall  be  chosen  in  the  same  way  by  the  officers  and 
teachers  of  the  Sunday-school,  to  act  in  conjunction  with 
the  Nominating  Committee  of  the  church  in  reporting 
nominees  for  officers  of  the  Sunday-school.  No  person 
eligible  for  reelection  shall  be  a  member  of  the  Nominating 
Committee.  This  committee  shall  adopt  such  methods  as 
may  to  it  seem  proper  to  obtain  from  the  different  members 
of  this  church  a  general  expression  as  to  their  preferences 
for  persons  to  fill  the  various  offices,  such  expression 
being  intended  to  aid  the  committee  in  making  its  report. 

At  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  in  the  second  week  before 

the  annual  meeting  in ,  the  Nominating  Committee  of 

the  church  shall  report  one  nomination  for  each  of  the 
offices,  the  terms  of  which  are  expiring,  or  in  which 
for  any  reason  a  vacancy  exists,  except  that  the  nomina- 
tions for  the  offices  in  the  Sunday-school  shall  be  reported 
by  the  joint  action  of  the  Nominating  Committee  of  the 
church  and  school.  One  week  later  other  nominations 
may  be  made.  The  Clerk  shall  then  print  the  nominations 
and  distribute  them  to  the  church. 

In  case  any  person  nominated  by  the  committee  shall 
refuse  to  serve,  the  matter  shall  be  referred  to  the  Nomina- 
ting Committee  for  further  action  and  report.  One  week 
after  its  report  other  nominations  may  be  made,  and  the 
election  shall  then  take  place. 

(11)  The  church  may  also  choose  a  Music  Committee 
and  such  other  committees  as  it  may  deem  advisable. 

Section  2.  The  Pastor  shall  have  in  charge  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  congregation;  he  shall  preach  the  word, 
and  have  in  his  care  the  stated  services  of  public  worship, 
and  shall  administer  the  ordinances.  He  shall  preside  at 
all  meetings  of  the  church,  except  as  limited  in  Article 
VII,   Sec.  2   (4),  relating  to  business  meetings. 

Section  3.  The  Clerk  shall  keep  a  complete  record  of  the 
transactions  at  all  business  meetings  of  the  church,  which 
shall  be  read  for  approval  at  the  next  following  special 


140  A  Baptist  Manual 

business  meeting.  He  shall  keep  a  register  of  the  names 
of  members,  with  dates  of  admission  and  dismission  or 
death,  together  with  a  record  of  baptisms.  He  shall  also 
notify  all  officers,  members  of  committees,  and  delegates  of 
their  election  or  appointment.  He  shall  issue  letters  of 
dismission  and  recommendation  voted  by  the  church,  pre- 
serve on  file  all  communications  and  written  official  re- 
ports, and  give  legal  notice  of  all  meetings  where  such 
notice  is  necessary,  as  indicated  in  these  by-laws. 

Section  4.  The  Deacons  shall  provide  for  the  Lord's 
Supper  and  aid  in  its  administration,  and  shall  care  for 
the  poor,  calling  upon  the  Treasurer  by  vote  as  a  Board, 
at  their  discretion,  for  any  funds  in  his  possession  held 
for  these  purposes. 

They  shall  examine  and  recommend  candidates  for 
admission  to  the  church,  shall  provide  for  the  supply  of 
the  pulpit  in  any  vacation  of  the  Pastor,  shall  decide 
on  objects  for  regular  or  special  collections  when  the 
church  has  not  acted  thereon,  shall  have  regard  to  discipline 
as  provided  in  the  article  relating  to  that  subject,  and 
shall  be  watchful  for  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  church. 
They  shall  make  a  written  report  at  each  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  matters  under  their  charge. 

Section  5.  The  Treasurer  shall  keep  separate  accounts 
as  follows : 

(i)  Of  all  moneys  contributed  at  the  Lord's  Supper, 
which  shall  be  primarily  devoted  to  the  relief  of  the  poor, 
and  which  contributions,  together  with  all  other  moneys 
given  for  that  purpose,  he  shall  hold  subject  to  the  orders 
of  the  Deacons.  (2)  Of  all  moneys  raised  for  the  ob- 
jects of  Christian  benevolence,  to  be  paid  by  him  to  the 
several  persons  or  societies  entitled  thereto.  (3)  Of  all 
moneys  received  by  him  for  the  support  of  public  worship 
or  of  any  department  of  church  work,  to  be  paid  out  on  the 
order  of  the  church  or  of  any  persons  or  committees 
authorized  by  the  church  therefor. 


Constitution  of  a  Church  141 

All  the  Treasurer's  accounts  shall  be  kept  distinct  from 
all  other  accounts,  and  all  deposits  made,  and  all  checks 
drawn  by  him  shall  be  in  the  name  of  the  church. 

He  shall  make  an  annual  written  report  in  detail  of 
his  receipts  and  expenditures,  properly  audited  by  some 
person  previously  appointed  by  the  church. 

Section  6.  The  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
shall  have  the  general  oversight  and  direction  of  the 
school,  and  shall  conduct  its  affairs  upon  such  general 
plans  and  in  such  methods  as  may  be  approved  by  the 
Advisory  Committee. 

He  shall,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  church,  present 
a  written  report  of  the  work  of  the  school  during  the 
year,  with  such  recommendations  as  he  may  deem  wise. 

VI.  Organizations 

The  church  regards  as  integral  parts  of  itself  all  organ- 
izations formed  for  the  purposes  of  ministration  and 
which  use  the  facilities  of  the  church  property.  Of  all 
such  organizations  the  Pastor  shall  have  general  oversight, 
and  the  church  will  expect  a  report  from  each  at  its  annual 
meeting. 

VH.  Meetings 

Section  i.  For  Worshily.  (i)  Public  services  shall  be 
held  statedly  on  the  Lord's  Day  and  on  some  regular  eve- 
ning or  evenings  of  each  week. 

(2)  The  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  celebrated  on  the  first 
Sunday  morning  of  each  month,  or  at  such  other  time  as 
the  church  may  determine.  ^The  midweek  meeting  next 
preceding  shall  be  the  covenant  meeting. 

(3)  Occasional  religious  meetings  may  be  appointed 
by  the  Pastor  at  his  discretion,  or  by  vote  of  the  church. 

Section  2.  For  Business,  (i)  At  any  of  the  regular 
meetings  for  worship  the  church  may,  without  special  no- 
tice, act  upon  the  reception  of  members,  or  upon  the  dis- 


V. 


142  A  Baptist  Manual 

missal  of  members  to  other  churches,  and  upon  the  appoint- 
ment of  delegates  to  councils,  but  not  upon  other  business. 

(2)  The  Pastor  may,  and  shall,  when  requested  by  the 
Deacons,  Trustees,  or  a  standing  committee,  call  from  the 
pulpit  special  business  meetings,  the  particular  object  of 
the   meeting  being   clearly  stated   in   the   notice. 

Special  meetings  of  the  church  shall  also  be  called  by 
the  Clerk  upon  the  written  application  of  any  five  adult 
members  specifying  the  object  thereof,  which  notice  shall 
be  read  at  the  public  service  on  the  Lord's  Day  next 
preceding  the  day  fixed  for  such  meeting.  No  special 
meeting  shall  be  held  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  notice 
is  given. 

(3)  The   annual   meeting  of   the   church   shall  be   held 

on    

at  which  time  the  annual  reports  shall  be  presented  and 
officers  elected,  and  such  other  business  transacted  as 
may  be  specified  in  the  call  or  authorized  in  the  by-laws. 
This  meeting  shall  be  called  by  the  Clerk  in  the  manner 
specified  in  the  paragraph  next  preceding. 

(4)  At  all  meetings  for  business  called  by  the  Clerk, 
a  chairman  shall  be  chosen  by  vote  of  the  church;  but  at 
all  other  meetings  the  Pastor  shall  preside,  except  that 
in  his  absence,  or  when  the  business  relates  to  himself, 
the  church  shall  elect  a  chairman. 

(5)  At  the  annual  and  all  special  meetings  .  .  .  mem- 
bers shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

VIII.  Discipline 

Section  i.  Should  any  unhappy  differences  arise  be- 
tween members,  the  aggrieved  member  shall  follow,  in  a 
tender  spirit,  the  rules  given  by  our  Lord  in  the  eighteenth 
chapter  of  Matthew. 

Section  2.  Should  any  case  of  gross  breach  of  covenant, 
or  of  public  scandal,  occur,  the  Deacons  shall  endeavor  to 


Constitution  of  a  Church  143 

remove  the  offense;  and  if  such  effort  fail,  shall  report  the 
case  to  the  church. 

Section  3.  If  the  church  vote  to  entertain  a  complaint, 
which  must  be  made  in  writing,  it  shall  appoint  a  rea- 
sonable time  and  place  of  hearing  and  notify  the  per- 
son in  question  thereof,  furnishing  him  with  a  copy  of 
the  charges. 

Section  4.  At  such  hearing,  the  accused  member  may 
call  to  his  aid  any  member  of  the  church  as  counsel.  If  he 
shall  not  present  himself  at  the  time  appointed,  or  give 
satisfactory  reasons  for  hi:  neglect  so  to  do,  the  church 
may  proceed  in  his  absence. 

Section  5.  All  such  proceedings  should  be  pervaded  by 
a  spirit  of  Christian  kindness  and  forbearance,  but  should 
an  adverse  decision  be  reached,  the  church  may  proceed 
to  admonish  or  declare  the  offender  to  be  no  longer  in 
the  membership  of  the  church. 

Section  6.  In  case  of  grave  difficulty  the  church  will  be 
ready,  if  requested,  to  ask  advice  of  a  mutual  council. 

IX.  Corporate  Seal 

This  church  shall  become  (or  being)  legally  incorpo- 
rated under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  

adopts  as  its  corporate  seal,  a  scroll  or  circle  containing 

the  words,  "  The  Baptist 

Church   of    ,   Organized    19 , 

Incorporated  19 "    And  the  following 

motto  and  device   

The  same  to  be  written,  stamped,  or  printed. 

X.  Amendments 

The  Constitution  may  be  amended  by  a  two-thirds  vote 
of  the  members  present  and  voting  at  any  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  church,  or  at  a  meeting  specially  called  for 
that    purpose,    the    proposed    amendment    being    inserted 


144  ^  Baptist  Manual 

in  the  call;  but  no  change  shall  be  made  in  Articles  II 
and  III,  entitled  "  Covenant "  and  "  Character,"  except 
at  an  annual  meeting,  and  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  all 
the  members  of  the  church  entitled  to  vote,  said  proposed 
change  having  been  laid  before  the  church  in  writing  at 
a  business  meeting  not  less  than  one  month  before  the 
time  of  the  proposed  action,  and  read  from  the  pulpit  on 
the  Lord's  Day  next  succeeding  such  proposal. 


FORMS    of  LETTERS    MISSIVE 


From  Individuals  Desiring  Help  in  Organizing 

A  Church 

To  the Baptist  Church, 

in ,  Greeting  : 

After  careful  deliberation,  and  after  seeking  the  guid- 
ance of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  have  come  to  regard  it  as  our 
duty  and  privilege  to  associate  together  as  a  church  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  this  place,  and  have  taken  the 
steps  preparatory  thereto.  We  therefore  affectionately 
request  you  to  send  your  pastor  and  two  delegates  to  an 
ecclesiastical   council,   to   be   constituted   as   stated   below, 

hereby  called  to  meet  in  our  place  of  worship  on  

,  the day  of , 

at   o'clock   ....   m.,  which  shall  review 

our  proceedings,  and  consider  the  need  and  opportunity 
for  the  proposed  church ;  and  if  the  result  of  such  exam- 
ination be  favorable,  assist  in  completing  the  organiza- 
tion, and  extend  to  it  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptist  churches. 
Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace. 


Committee  for  the  Brethren^ 


(Date  and  place.) 

1  When  the  names  of  the  members  of  a  committee  are  not  in  their  own 
handwriting,  all  copies  of  the  letters  missive  should  be  authenticated  by 
the  actual  signature  of  the  clerk. 

145 


146  A  Baptist  Manual 

The   following  named  churches    (and  persons)   are  in- 
vited : 

(Names.) 


Clerk,  pro  tern. 

For  the  Reception  of  a  Church  into  Fellowship 
The  Church  in   


To  the Baptist  Church, 

in  ,  Greeting  : 

This  church,  organized  as  a  church  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  upon  Baptist  principles,  earnestly  desires  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptist  churches  and  par- 
ticipation in  common  work  for  the  advancement  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ.  We  therefore  affectionately  request 
you  to  send  your  pastor  and  two  delegates  to  an  ecclesias- 
tical council,  to  be  constituted  as  stated  below,  hereby  called 

to  meet  in  our  place  of  worship  on , 

the   day  of   ,  19 , 

at    o'clock    ....    m.,  which   shall  make 

the  necessary  examinations  into  our  polity,  faith,  and  prac- 
tice, and  if  the  result  be  favorable,  extend  to  us  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  Baptist  churches. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace, 


Committee  of  the  Church. 


(Date  and  place.) 
The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows 

(Names.) 
In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  church. 


Church  Clerk. 


Letters  Missive  147 

For  the  Ordination  of  a  Minister 

The  Baptist  Church, 

in  

To.  the Baptist  Church, 

in ,  Greeting  : 

Whereas,  Brother  A.  B.,  a  member  of  this  church,  be- 
lieving that  the  Lord  has  called  him  to  the  ministry  of  the 
word,    desires    ordination    in   view    of    special    work    now 

before  him,  namely,^ 

and  trusts  that  he  has  obtained  the  preparation  of  mind 
and  heart  necessary  to  qualify  him  for  its  sacred  duties, 
we  therefore  affectionately  request  you  to  send  your  pas- 
tor and  two  delegates  to  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  be  con- 
stituted   as    stated   below,   hereby   called   to   meet   in   our 

place  of  worship  on ,  the 

day  of  , ,  19 ,  at  o'clock 

m.,  which  shall  review  our  proceedings  and  make  the 

necessary  examination,  and  if  the  result  be  favorable, 
proceed  with  us  to  his  ordination  and  extend  to  him  the 
fellowship  of  the  Baptist  ministers  and  churches. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace. 


Committee  of  the  Church. 


(Date  and  place.) 

The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows: 
(Names.) 

In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  church. 


Church  Clerk. 

1  The  work   should   be   specified,  such   as  "pastoral   service,"  "foreign 
missionary  work,"  "home  missionary  work,"  "as  an  evangelist,"  etc. 


148  A  Baptist  Manual 

For  Advice  in  Special  Cases 

The  Baptist  Church, 

in  

To_  the Baptist  Church, 

in ,  Greeting  : 

Whereas  this  church  is  in  circumstances  which  make 
it  needful  that  it  should  obtain  wise  and  godly  advice 
from  neighboring  churches  whose  judgment,  it  may  be 
hoped,  will  be  guided  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  therefore 
aflfectionately  request  you  to  send  your  pastor  and  two 
delegates  to  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  be  constituted  as 
stated  below,  hereby  called  to  meet  in  our  place  of  wor- 
ship on ,  the day  of 

19 ,  at  o'clock  m.,  which  shall  con- 
sider the  facts  and  questions  then  to  be  laid  before  it, 
and  which  shall  give  to  us  such  fraternal  advice  as  it 
may  deem  important  with  reference  to  the  work  committed 
to  our  hands. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace, 


Committee  of  the  Church. 


(Date  and  place.) 

The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows: 
(Names.) 

In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  church. 


Church  Clerk. 


Letters  Missive  149 

For  Advice  in  Case  of  Internal  Dissensions 

The  Baptist  Church, 

in  

To,  the Baptist  Church, 

in ,  Greeting  : 

Whereas,  the  peace  of  this  church  is  disturbed  by  in- 
ternal differences  between  brethren,  which  are  injurious 
to  its  prosperity  and  the  cause  of  Christ;  and  whereas, 
in  such  cases  it  is  the  privilege  of  any  church  to  ask  for 
wise  and  godly  counsel  from  neighboring  churches  with 
the  hope  of  thereby  removing  the  causes  of  disturbance 
and  securing  harmony;  and  whereas,  brethren  who  differ 
in  their  present  judgment  agree  to  this  reference,  we 
therefore  affectionately  request  you  to  send  your  pastor 
and  two  delegates  to  an  ecclesiastical  council  to  be  con- 
stituted  as    stated   below,   hereby   called   to   meet   in   our 

place  of  worship  on  ,  the  day  of 

,  19 ,  at  o'clock m.,  to 

which  these  difficulties  within  the  church  will  be  made 
known,  and  which,  after  due  deliberation,  shall  give  to 
us  the  counsel  to  which  it  shall  be  divinely  led. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace, 


Committee  of  the  Church. 


(Date  and  place.) 

The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows: 
(Names.) 

In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  church. 

Church  Clerk. 


150  A  Baptist  Manual 

For  a  Mutual  Council  in  Case  of  Alleged  Grievance 

The Baptist  Church,  in 

To  the Baptist  Church, 

in ,  Greeting  : 

Whereas,  Brother  A.  B.,  who  has  been  deprived  of 
good  and  regular  standing  in  this  church  by  act  of  the 
church,  alleges  that  this  action  is  unjust  and  improper, 
and  desires  that  the  church  will  join  with  him  in  calling 
a  mutual  council  to  consider  his  alleged  grievance  and 
advise  in  reference  thereto ;  and  whereas  the  church,  de- 
siring only  that  which  is  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  accedes  to  his  request,  we  therefore  af- 
fectionately request  you  to  send  your  pastor  and  two  dele- 
gates to  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  be  constituted  (by 
mutual    agreement)     as    stated    below,    hereby    called    to 

meet  in  our  place  of  worship  on ,  the  

day  of    19....,   at    o'clock 

m.,   which   shall   review   all   the   proceedings   in   this 

case,  make  the  necessary  examinations,  and  give  such  ad- 
vice as  it  shall  find  required  by  Baptist  principles  in  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy,  and  peace, 


Committee  of  the  Church. 
(Date  and  place.) 


Complainant. 

The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows: 

(Names.) 
In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  church. 


Church  Clerk. 


Letters  Missive  1 5  i 

For  an  Ex-parte  Council  to  Consider  an 
Alleged  Grievance 

To,  the Baptist  Churchy 

in ,  Greeting  : 

Whereas,  the  undersigned  has  been  by  the  act  of  the 

Baptist   Church   in    

deprived  of  his  good  and  regular  standing  in  that  church, 
and  thereby  of  his  communion  with  neighboring  churches, 
which  action  he  holds  to  have  been  erroneous  both  in 
method  and  substance,  and  an  injury  to  him  as  a  Christian 
brother;  and  whereas,  he  has  requested  the  church  to 
join  him  in  calling  a  mutual  council  to  ask  the  advice  of 
neighboring  churches  in  the  case,  which  request  the  church 
has  refused  to  grant,  as  he  thinks,  unreasonably;  in  accord- 
ance with  the  method  of  relief  acknowledged  among  our 
churches,  the  undersigned  affectionately  requests  you  to  send 
your  pastor  and  two  delegates  to  an  ex-parte  ecclesiastical 
council,  to  be  constituted  as  stated  below,  hereby  called  to 

meet  in   on   ,  the   day 

of  ,  19 ,  at  o'clock m., 

to  which  shall  be  communicated  all  the  facts  in  the  case, 
and  which  will  be  respectfully  asked  to  give  such  advice 
as  shall  be  warranted,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

Trusting  in  your  willingness  to  listen  and  to  aid  in 
securing  the  removal  of  any  injury,  if  such  should  be 
found  to  exist, 

Yours  in  Christian  fellowship. 


(Date  and  place.) 

The  churches  (and  persons)  invited  are  as  follows: 
(Names.) 


FORMS  RELATING  to  the  DISMISSION 
OF  CHURCH  MEMBERS 


Application  for  Uniting  in  the  Formation  of  a 

New  Church 

To  the   Baptist  Church 

of 

Dear  Brethren  : 
Being  desirous  of  uniting  with  other  Christian  brethren 

in  the  formation  of  a  new  Baptist  church  in  

I  hereby  respectfully  request  a  letter  of  dismission  and 
recommendation  for  that  purpose,  to  take  effect  when 
such  church  shall  be  duly  organized. 

Yours  in  Christian  fellowship, 

(Signed) 

,  19 

Letter  of  Dismission  for  the  Formation  of  a 

New  Church 

The Baptist  Church 

of 

Sends  Greeting: 

This  certifies  that ,  a 

member  in  good  and  regular  standing  of  this  church,  is 
at  own  request  hereby  dismissed  and  affection- 
ately recommended  to  unite  with  other  Christian  brethren 

in  the  organization  of  a  new  Baptist  church  in   

When  membership 

152 


Dismission  of  Church  Members        153 

in  such  church  shall  be  completed,   membership 

with  this  church  will  cease. 

Yours  in  Christian  fellowship, 

(Signed) 

,19 Clerk. 

Application  for  a  Letter  of  Dismission  from 
One  Church  to  Another 

To  the   Baptist  Church 

of 

Dear  Brethren  : 

Being  desirous  of  uniting  with  the Baptist 

Church  of  ,  I  hereby  respectfully  request 

a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation  to  that  church. 
Yours  in  Christian  fellowship, 

(Signed) 

,  19 

A  Letter  of  Dismission  and  Recommendation 

The Baptist  Church 

of  

To  the   Baptist  Church 

of ,  Greeting  : 

This  certifies  that   ,  a 

member  in  good  and  regular  standing  of  this  church,  is 
at  own  request  hereby  dismissed  and  affection- 
ately   recommended    to    your    fellowship    and    care,    and, 

when   received   by  you    membership   with   this 

church  will  cease. 

By  vote  of  the  church. 


19 Clerk. 


Note  i.  This  letter  is  good,  as  a  recommendation,  for  one  year  only 
from  its  date. 

2.  The  clerk  of  the  church  accepting  this  letter  is  requested  to  fill  out 
the  accompanying  blank  certificate,  and  return  it  to  the  above  address  as 
soon  as  possible. 


154  ^  Baptist  Manual 

A  Certificate  of  Reception 

To  the   Baptist  Church 

of 

This  certifies  that ,  recommended 

to  our  Christian  fellowship  by  you,  was,  on  the   

day  of  ,  19 ,  received  into  the  membership 

of  the Baptist  Church  of  

Attest, 


Clerk. 
,19 


Form  of  Membership  Certificate 

To  be  given  to  members  desiring  to  unite  with  other  than 
a  Baptist  church,  or  desiring  the  termination  of  member- 
ship. 

To  Mr. 

Dear  Brother: 

This   will   certify  that  your   name   has   been   upon   the 

roll  of  this  church  since    ,  that 

it  has  continued  there  until  this  time  as  that  of  a  member 
in  regular  standing,  and  that  this  certificate  is  given  you  at 
your  own  request  and  your  membership  in  this  church 
terminated. 

Wishing  you  grace,  mercy  and  peace,  we  are, 

The   Baptist  Church 

of   

By  

Clerk. 
By  vote  of  the  Church  this 

,19.... 


FORMS  RELATING  TO  LICENSE 
AND  ORDINATION 

Form  of  a  License  to  Preach 

This  is  to  certify  that  Brother  , 

a  member  of  the   Baptist  Church  of 

,  in  good  standing  and  held  by  us  in 

high  esteem,  believing  himself  called  of  God  to  preach 
the  gospel,  and  having  given  evidence  of  his  godly  living 
and  gift  of  preaching  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  the 
church,  is  hereby  accorded  our  hearty  approval  and  consent 
that  he  employ  his  gifts  in  the  preaching  of  the  gospel 
as  the  Lord  may  open  the  way.  And  we  pray  that  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  may  give  him  abundant  grace  and  lead 
him  into  large  usefulness. 

By  vote  of  the  church. 

Pastor, 

Clerk. 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Ordination 

This  certifies  that  our  Brother 

was  publicly  ordained  and  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry  with  appropriate  religious  services,  prayer, 
and  the  laying  on  of  hands,  according  to  the  usages  of 
Baptist  churches,  at  ,  ,  19. . . . 

That  he  was  called  to  ordination  by  the 

Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  which,  after  full 

155 


156  A  Baptist  Manual 

and  sufficient  opportunity  for  judging  of  his  gifts,  were 
agreed  in  the  opinion  that  he  was  divinely  called  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry. 

That churches  were  represented  in  the  council 

by   ministers  and   laymen,  and  that, 

after  a  full,  fair,  and  deliberate  examination,  being  satis- 
fied on  all  points,  the  council  did  unanimously  recommend 
his   ordination. 

That  our  Brother  did  accordingly 

receive  the  full,  entire,  and  hearty  approval  of  the  coun- 
cil in  his  official  entrance  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
administering  the  ordinances,  and  otherwise  assuming  all 
the  functions  of  a  Christian  minister.  And  may  the  bless- 
ing of  the  great  Head  of  the  church  attend  him,  crown  his 
labors  with  abundant  success,  and  make  him  an  honored 
instrument  of  good  to  Zion  and  the  v/orld. 


Moderator, 

Clerk. 
(Date  and  place.) 


Date  Due 

r 

i 

■ 
f 

3 

h 

1 

f) 

PRINTED 

IN  U.  S.  A. 

1 

Pnncelon  Theological  Semtnary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  01021   8438 


